International Day for Biological Diversity 2025

• 23 May 2025

Why in News? 

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), along with the National Biodiversity Authority, Rajasthan Forest Department, and Rajasthan State Biodiversity Board, hosted a national-level event to mark the International Day for Biological Diversity 2025 (22nd May) in Udaipur, Rajasthan. 

Note: India ranks among the 17 mega-diverse countries, covering a land area of 329 million hectares and hosting over 100,000 animal species and 55,000 plant species. 

Key Points 

International Day for Biodiversity (IDB) 

• It is observed annually on 22nd May to raise awareness about the importance of conserving biological diversity worldwide. 
  • The Convention on Biological Diversity was adopted on this date in 1992 by the United Nations. 
• The theme for 2025 is ‘Harmony with Nature and Sustainable Development’. 
• In 2000, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) officially proclaimed 22nd May as IDB. 
  • UNCBD is a legally binding treaty to conserve biodiversity. 
  • India is a party to the convention and enacted the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. 
• The UNGA designated the years 2011-2020 as the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity, aiming to advance the implementation of a strategic plan for biodiversity. 

Highlights of the Event 

• Launch of National Campaign:  
  • A fortnight-long campaign on ‘Ending Plastic Pollution’, as part of the lead-up to the World Environment Day 2025 (5th June) was inaugurated. 
  • The campaign aims to intensify public engagement and policy discourse on plastic waste elimination. 
  • An exhibition on Biodiversity and Bioresources, showcasing India’s indigenous biodiversity, medicinal plants, traditional crop varieties, and conservation innovations was also inaugurated. 
• India’s Global Commitment to Biodiversity Conservation: 
  • India’s proactive role in advancing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), highlighted during the 16th Conference of Parties (COP16) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 2024. 
  • India demonstrated its leadership in Biodiversity Conservation by: 
    • Submitting Updated National Biodiversity Targets (September 2024) 
    • Releasing a revised National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) on 30th October, 2024. 
    • India’s conservation achievements include: 
      • Expansion of protected wetlands with 89 Ramsar sites covering 1.35 million hectares. 
      • 49 Biodiversity Heritage Sites notified under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 
  • The success of the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign, launched on World Environment Day 2024, which led to 142 crore trees planted globally, involving citizens in environmental stewardship was highlighted during the event. 
• Resources and Publications Released during the Event: 
  • Updated NBSAP 2024–2030 
  • India’s Seventh National Report (NR7) to the CBD 
  • Compendium on India’s Biodiversity Heritage Sites 
  • Brochure on the 2025 Access and Benefit Sharing Regulations under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002

Ramsar Sites in Rajasthan 

• Keoladeo National Park (Bharatpur), a globally recognised wetland and bird sanctuary, also known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary.  
• Sambhar Lake, located across the Jaipur, Ajmer, and Nagaur districts, is India’s largest inland saline lake and an internationally recognised Ramsar site. 
  • Designated in 1990, the lake holds ecological significance for its unique biodiversity, serving as a vital wintering habitat for migratory birds—including flamingos, pelicans, and several other species. 

Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) 

• The Kunming-Montreal GBF was adopted during the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in December 2022. 
  • It aims to support the achievement of sustainable development goals and build on previous strategic plans. 
  • The framework sets four goals for 2050 and 23 targets for 2030, covering planning, monitoring, reporting, finance, and capacity development. 
    • Target 3 of the GBF aims to increase protected areas to at least 30% of the world’s terrestrial area by 2030, compared to the current 16%. 
• It ensures that by 2030 at least 30% of areas of degraded terrestrial, inland water, and marine and coastal ecosystems are under effective restoration. 

India’s Initiatives Related to Biodiversity Conservation 

• India Business & Biodiversity Initiative (IBBI) 
• Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules 2010 
• National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystem 
• Wildlife Crime Control Bureau 
• Biological Diversity Act, 2002