INTERNATIONAL BIODIVERSITY DAY-2012(MAY-22)

INTERNATIONAL

 BIODIVERSITY DAY-2012(MAY-22)

The United Nations proclaimed May 22 The International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. When first created by the Second Committee of the UN General Assembly in late 1993, 29 December (the date of entry into force of the Convention of Biological Diversity), was designated The International Day for Biological Diversity. In December 2000, the UN General Assembly adopted 22 May as IDB, to commemorate the adoption of the text of the Convention on 22 May 1992 by the Nairobi Final Act of the Conference for the Adoption of the Agreed Text of the Convention on Biological Diversity. This was partly done because it was difficult for many countries to plan and carry out suitable celebrations for the date of 29 December, given the number of holidays that coincide aOn May 22, 1992, the text of the Convention on Biological Diversity was adopted by the of the United Nations at a conference in Nairobi, Kenya. Since 2001, the International Day for Biological Diversity is celebrated each year on the anniversary of this date. round that time oInternational Biodiversity Day will be celebrated on the 22nd May. The theme is Marine Biodiversity. You may ask how marine biodiversity relates to the Water Wise campaign, especially since Gauteng is approximately 550 km from the nearest ocean! Remember, all rivers and streams finally flow into the ocean. This means that any pollution that enters our rivers and streams can end up affecting both freshwater and marine biodiversity.

Biodiversity, or biological diversity, is the variety of all life on Earth, from bacteria, to trees, to elephants, to humans. Biodiversity links all the organisms on Earth into an interdependent web of life, where each species has a special and essential role to play in ensuring the successful functioning of all life on Earth. A reduction in biodiversity will contribute to a future with a short supply of freshwater, a decrease in food supply and an increase in pests and diseases. Effective biodiversity, especially along water course, is Water Wise. Marine Biodiversity is the theme for this year's International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB). Designation of IDB 2012 on the theme of marine ecosystems provides Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and everyone interested in marine life, the opportunity to raise awareness of the issue and increase practical action. From 2000 to 2010, an unprecedented worldwide collaboration by scientists around the world set out to try and determine how much life is in the sea. Dubbed the ‘Census of Marine Life’, the effort involved 2,700 scientists from over 80 nations, who participated in 540 expeditions around the world. They studied surface seawater and probed the deepest, darkest depths of the ocean, sailed tropical seas and explored ice-strewn oceans in the Arctic and Antarctic.

By the time the Census ended, it had added 1,200 species to the known roster of life in the sea; scientists are still working their way through another 5,000 specimens to determine whether they are also newly-discovered species. The estimate of the number of known marine species - the species that have been identified and the ones that have been documented but await classification - has increased as a direct result of the Census efforts, and is now around 250,000. (This total does not include some microbial life forms such as marine viruses.) In its final report, the Census team suggested it could be at least a million. Some think the figure could be twice as high.

The Convention on Biological Diversity states that without life in the ocean there would be no life on Earth. The ocean provides us with products and services we use every day. Sea snails produce toxins that are used in painkillers, seaweed is used to thicken ice-cream, toothpaste, sauces and paints, and phytoplankton (small marine plants), that release 50% of the world’s oxygen for us to breathe. South Africa has the 3rd highest level of biodiversity in the world. It is also the proud home to almost 10% of the world’s plant, fish and bird species, as well as almost 6% of the world’s mammal species. However, urbanisation, water pollution, economic development, invasive alien species and agriculture all place a burden on our natural biodiversity. Make biodiversity your concern:

 Awareness programmes and discussions on marine biodiversity marked the International Biodiversity Day celebrations. 2012  Year inaugurating jointly organised by the Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad and I.R. Balachandran Memorial Trust at Munambam, B. Madhusoodana Kurup, Vice-Chancellor of the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, said that marine biodiversity was under serious threat. Anthropological activities including pollution and overexploitation were contributing to the loss of marine biodiversity. Population of around 60 per cent of the commercially important marine species have recorded considerable decline.Pollution from industrial units, agricultural run-off and unscientific and destructive fishing practices were also contributing to the loss of marine biodiversity, Dr. Kurup said.M.K. Prasad presided over the meeting. C.R. Satyavathi, U.K. Gopalan, Charles George, K.S. Krishnan and Josi Palliparambil were among those who spoke. Fr. Jose Panampuzha inaugurated the programme organised by the National Biodiversity Authority and the Kerala State Biodiversity Board at the Chavara Cultural Centre.M.S. Maithili, Chief Environmental Engineer of the Kerala State Pollution Control Board, Prof. Antonio Rosilin, M.V. Sreelakshmi and K.K. Ruhaina spoke. V. Kripa and K.K. Joshi, scientists of the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi, led discussions on marine biodiversity, said a communication issued by C.G. Anatha Pai, district coordinator of the Board.

Kottarakara Based Kerala Kavya Kala Sahithy and Kurakar Cultural Forum jointly organized a Seminar on “Biodiversity” on 22^nd, the International Biodiversity Day at Kurakar Town Center. Prof. John Kurakar inaugurated the environment awareness programme. Mr. Bobby Kurakar, Prof. Varghese John, Mr. Manu Kurakar, Prof. P.K Varghese, Prof. Molly Kurakar, Mr Sadasivan, Mr Muhammed Ashref addressed the meeting. The function concluded at 5 pm.

                            Kerala Kavya Kala Sahithy