22 May 2023

International Day for Biological Diversity

The United Nations decided to celebrate the International Day for Biological Diversity annually to raise public education and awareness on biological diversity and its importance and value towards a sustainable future. Biological diversity not just refers to the wide variety of plants, animals and microorganisms, but it also includes genetic differences within each species such as, varieties of crops and breeds of livestock, and the variety of ecosystems i.e. lakes, forest, deserts, agricultural landscapes that host multiple forms of interactions among their members i.e. humans, plants, animals etc.

Loss of biodiversity threatens each one of us, including our health. Biodiversity loss could expand the number of diseases transmitted from animals to humans, while keeping the biodiversity intact offers excellent tools to fight against pandemics such as those caused by COVID-19.