Context: 22nd of May is observed as the International Day for Biological Diversity – a day marked in the global calendar to raise and create awareness about biodiversity and its issues. What is biodiversity? It encompasses the variety of life on Earth at all its levels, from genes to ecosystems, and evolutionary, ecological, and cultural processes that sustain life. In short, it is the foundation of ecosystem services of which human beings are a small part, along with the variety of animals, plants, and microorganisms. For almost every aspect of our lives, we depend on biodiversity. However, despite it being critical to our survival, this ecosystem has come under severe stress over the last few decades – largely due to human activity. According to WWF’s Living Planet Report, Biodiversity is being lost at an alarming rate. The report released last year states that the numbers of mammals, birds, fish, plants and insects have declined by an average of 68% between 1970 and 2016. The State of the World’s Plants and Fungi in 2020 assessment says, Two-fifths of the world’s plants are at risk of extinction. To convey to people the urgent need to protect nature, restore ecosystems and establish a balance in our relationship with the planet, the theme of Biodiversity Day this year is - We’re part of the solution. How can we be part of the solution? What role can we play in the management and restoration of ecosystem services? What are the challenges and what is the need of the hour?. These are some aspects we will discuss on this edition of The Big Picture.
Key Points

• The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 1993 proclaimed 22nd May as IDB to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues.
• The UNGA also declared the period 2011-2020 as the United Nations (UN) Decade on Biodiversity to promote the implementation of a strategic plan on biodiversity and its overall vision of living in harmony with nature.
• It also declared 2021-2030 as the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.

2021 Theme

• This year’s theme is “We’re part of the solution” which is a continuation of 2020 theme- Our solutions are in nature.
• This serves as a reminder that biodiversity remains the answer to several sustainable development challenges.

Some Global Initiatives to Save Biodiversity
Convention on Biological Diversity

• It is a legally binding treaty to conserve biodiversity that has been in force since 1993.
• India is a party to the convention.
• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora:
• It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together.

India is a member of the convention.
Biodiversity

• It is a term used to describe the enormous variety of life on Earth. It can be used more specifically to refer to all of the species in one region or ecosystem. Biodiversity refers to every living thing, including plants, bacteria, animals, and humans.
• It is often understood in terms of the wide variety of plants, animals and microorganisms, but it also includes genetic differences within each species.

Concerns

• World Wide Fund for Nature in its flagship Living Planet Report 2020 warned that global biodiversity is in steep decline.
• It has revealed a global species loss of 68% in less than 50 years, a catastrophic decline never seen before.

Need for Conservation

• It boosts ecosystem productivity where each species, no matter how small, all have an important role to play.
• A larger number of plant species means a greater variety of crops. Greater species diversity ensures natural sustainability for all life forms.
• The world should conserve it so as to maintain the food chain. The disturbance in the food chain may affect the whole ecosystem.