International Year of Biodiversity 2010

Biodiversity is Life - Biodiversity is our Life

We are familiar with biodiversity through appealing images of animal and plants. However, we are less familiar with the vital role biodiversity plays in human well-being and in maintaining the life support system on Earth. UNESCO, through the natural and social and human sciences, culture and its diversity, education and communication, contributes in a multidisciplinary way to tackling the root causes of biodiversity erosion and loss due to unsustainable development. These disciplines are all central to re-defining our approach to biodiversity conservation. It is only when humans realize the centrality of biodiversity to their lives that they will start to conserve and sustainably and equitably use it. It is for these reasons that UNESCO considers itself as a central actor in the implementation of the International Year of Biodiversity (IYB).

The UN-declared International Year of Biodiversity marks the 2010 Biodiversity Target aiming to significantly reduce the rate of biodiversity loss by this date.

UNESCO joins the Convention on Biological Diversity, the lead UN body and other UN, international and national partners to make the IYB an effective instrument to advance the cause of biodiversity conservation. During the Year, UNESCO will lead several activities which aim to educate and to raise public awareness on the reasons for conserving biodiversity, to fill the gaps in our knowledge of biodiversity and to catalyze further international action for its sustainable use.

Related links

• IYB Video
• Inaugural event (See a short extract)
• UNESCO IYB biodiversity science-policy conference
• Railings around UNESCO HQs
• International conference on cultural and biological diversity
• Resource materials
• UNESCO and biodiversity
• FAQ
• Official website
• Other Partner websites