The United National General Assembly has declared 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity. Events across the world will highlight the loss of biodiversity, which is estimated to be as high as 100 times the natural rate as a result of human activities, and expected to rise further as a result of the impacts of climate change.
Key issues that will be under discussion during the International Year of Biodiversity include:
– why is biodiversity so crucial to life on earth for food, wealth and wellbeing
– what the consequences will be to vital natural services such as providing clean water& soil
– celebrating the sung, and unsung, heroes and heroines saving biodiversity
– how world leaders will respond to the challenge when they meet in October 2010 in Nagoya?
– how to get involved and help protect biodiversity
22nd May 2010 has been designated as International Biodiversity Day and October 2010 will see the fifth meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety in Nagoya, Japan where governments will set new targets and steps needed to address biodiversity loss. It has been widely acknowledged that the original targets set after the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 have not yet been met.
Further Information can be found at www.biodiversityislife.net