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A ‘Workshop for Preparation of India’s Third National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity’ was organised on the eve of the International Biological Diversity Day, here today. On this occasion, a poster and a brochure on the theme of this year’s Biological Diversity Day were also released.
The theme for International Day for Biological Diversity 2005 is ‘Biodiversity: Life Insurance for our Changing World’.
The United Nations has proclaimed May 22, the International Day for Biological Diversity, to commemorate the date of adoption of the text of CBD in 1992. The day is celebrated to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. The celebration each year of this day is an occasion to reflect on our responsibility to safeguard the precious heritage of bio-resources for our future generation.
Addressing the participants, Shri Desh Deepak Verma, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests, said that international community’s approach to biodiversity has changed over the past ten years, adding further that biological diversity is now considered as an essential part of efforts to eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable development.
The world is changing faster than ever before, and growing human populations and expanding consumption are placing severe pressure on biodiversity. This year’s theme reminds us that in addition to providing the physical conditions for life, biodiversity also plays an important role in protecting life and making it resilient to the pressures brought about by the change. Thus, biodiversity is the life insurance of life itself. More specifically, diversity within species helps a given specie survive rapid changes in surrounding ecosystem. Diversity between species increases the resilience of ecosystems by enhancing functions and providing multiple sources for ecosystem services. This makes sustainable development possible, protecting life from the potential consequences of change, including sudden changes to ecosystems, such as those brought on by disasters.
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is the first global comprehensive agreement to address all aspects of biological diversity, including conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of its components, and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from its use. The Convention was signed by nations during the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. Since its entry into force in 1994, the CBD has been ratified by 180 Parties. India is a Party to the Convention on Biological Diversity.
AKS/nsr
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