The International Day for Biological Diversity is observed annually and commemorates the adoption of the Convention on Biological Diversity on this day in 1992.  This day is of special importance this year, 2010, because this is the International Year of Biological Diversity. Therefore, today, IICA renews its commitment to sustainable development and its efforts at reducing the effects of climate change and the destruction of our natural resources.

Today, more than ever, agriculture, biodiversity and food safety are closely linked. A third of the world’s population is farmers, and most are small scale family farmers in developing countries.  These farmers provide a wide range of ecosystem services and land stewardship mechanisms to enhance and protect biodiversity, while contributing to economic growth and reducing poverty and hunger.  

As our Director General, Dr. Victor M. Villalobos, has stated at international forums, inasmuch as food production is not increasing fast enough to keep up with the growth of the world population, food and nutritional security must continue to be the focus of attention of national and international policies in coming years.

The have great potential – natural resources and biodiversity – to meet the world´s need for larger quantities of food and raw material. However, an effort must be made to increase production yields through more sound use of water and soil.

The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2010 as the International Year of Biological Diversity for the purpose of making the international community more aware of the problem caused by the continued loss of biodiversity. This  celebration is an opportunity to:

•  Highlight the importance of biodiversity for humankind.
•  Reflect on our achievements in the conservation of biodiversity.
•  Double our efforts to significantly reduce the current rate of loss of biodiversity.

Protecting biodiversity through conservation and comprehensive environmental management requires the participation of everyone. We must join efforts to build a sustainable future for all living beings.

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IICA's Directorate of Natural Resources and Environmental Management
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