World Biodiversity Day

Since 2000, May 22 has been designated by the United Nations General Assembly as the International Day of Biological Diversity. The 2014 theme is Island Biodiversity. This theme was chosen to coincide with the UN General Assembly's designation of 2014 as the International Year of Small Island Developing States (A/Res/67/206).

From 1993-2000, the day was celebrated on December 29 in commemorationof the entry into force of the Convention on Biological Diversity. In 2000 the UN General Assembly shifted the date to May 22 to commemorate the adoption of the text of the Convention at the Rio Earth Summit on 22 May 1992.

The UN General Assembly also has declared 2011-2020 to be the UN Decade on Biodiversity. The purpose is to promote implementation of the objectives of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity.

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