Celebrating Biodiversity Day in India

Keeping in view the theme identified for celebrating this year’s International Day for Biological Diversity, India plans to undertake the following activities to commemorate the Day this year:

The Arid Forest Research Institute, an organization of the Indian Council for Forestry Research & Education, working on drylands, has agreed to undertake activities as appropriate to  celebrate the day in a befitting manner.

Organisations such as the National Museum for Natural History, Delhi; Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai; Centre for Environment Education, Ahmedabad; CPR Environmental Education Centre, Chennai; to undertake activities such as drawing / painting competition for school children, organize seminars, symposia, exhibitions etc. on the them.

Governments of States with drylands to undertake activities as deemed fit to celebrate the day in a befitting manner.

Some activities planned for International Year of Deserts and Desertification, are being so timed so as to coincide with the International Day for Biological Diversity.



Today is 22nd may 2006, is being celebrated as the International Day for Biological Diversity.

The United Nations General Assembly assigned the 22 of May of each year as the International Day for Biological Diversity - a day to reflect on the state and the importance of biodiversity. The theme of this celebration is “Protecting Biodiversity in Dry Lands: Achieving the 2010 Biodiversity Targets”.

Biodiversity is the variety of life, the rich assembly of living things in the natural world. Biodiversity includes all living things and their environments, from the tiniest flying insect to the tallest tree, from open expanses of coastline to the smallest urban garden. Biodiversity is found everywhere. We are part if biodiversity and depend on it for our quality of life. Biodiversity involves everyone, it supports us, and it is our vital for our survival.

Gujarat Science City organized various activities to mark the celebration of IBD-2006 today. The celebration includes illustrative poster exhibition on the theme, student’s involvement and competitions, hands on activities, interaction with scientists and screening of biodiversity movies. About 150 meritorious secondary school students from Gujarat and other parts of the country have participated in the above activities as a symbol of unity in diversity. The younger generation has now ready to work together for the biodiversity conservation and to ensure a new and sustainable relationship between humanity and the natural world for the years to come. The Science City has recently concluded one-month intensive training programme on bioresources for the school children.

Shri C. N. Pandey, IFS, Director, GEER Foundation interacted with the participants and sensitized them about the importance of biodiversity to humanity. According to him ‘the biodiversity that we see today is the fruit of billions of years of evolution, shaped by natural processes and, increasingly, by the influence of humans. It forms the web of life of which we are an integral part and upon which we so fully depend’.

“We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors; we borrow it from our children."

The International Biodiversity Day is an important reminder that we share this responsibility here at home and with the rest of the world.