World celebrates International Day for Biological Diversity May 22

CAIRO – 22 May 2021: Every year, the world celebrates the International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) on May 22, to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues.

In the year 2000, the United Nations proclaimed May 22 as the International Day for Biological Diversity.

Biological diversity is important because it is the source of basic goods and services that our planet needs and depends on, as it provides us with food, clothing, housing, medicine, spiritual food and oxygen that we breathe, purify water, and confront climate changes and natural disasters.

Egypt is distinguished by the diversity of its ecosystems and wildlife, as it includes more than 4,500 species of plants, with “2365 flowering plants, 2,420 types of fungi, and 1,483 types of algae.”

In Egypt there are also 111 species of mammals, 109 types of reptiles, 9 types of amphibians, more than 1000 species of fish, 800 types of marine mollusks, 1000 species of crustaceans, more than 325 types of coral reefs, and from 10,000 to 15,000 species of insects, 480 species of birds.

Each year sees the disappearance of thousands of plant and animal species. Most become extinct due to human activity, and will no longer give glory to God by their very existence, nor convey their message to us. We have no such right. #Biodiversity #LaudatoSiWeek

— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) May 22, 2021

There are several main reasons for the decline of biological diversity, which are: the overexploitation of natural resources, unsustainable production and consumption, natural disasters such as floods and droughts, climate change, degradation and fragmentation of natural environments, change in land use, introduction of new types of agriculture, excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides and increased pollution.

In September 2020, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El Sisi gave a speech at the United Nations Summit on Biodiversity, during which he warned against the risk of the “steady decline in biodiversity and the rapid loss of natural resources”.

Giving a speech, Sisi said decreasing biodiversity and quick loss of natural resources threaten all countries and curb the ability to achieve goals of sustainable development, especially in light of the phenomenon of climate change.