On the International Day for Biological Diversity 2022, the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity emphasised once again the importance of preserving biodiversity, both globally and locally. This year’s slogan is Building a shared future for all life which highlights how important is to take action today. For that, this year the Secretariat has released a list of 22 actions that anybody can carry out anywhere in the world. By completing at least one thing from the selected list, the contributor will participate in the restoration of biodiversity.
Indeed, biodiversity remains the answer to several sustainable development challenges. From nature-based solutions to climate, health issues, food and water security and sustainable livelihoods, biodiversity is the foundation upon which we can build back a better and healthier future. This year’s slogan was chosen to continue building momentum and support for the post-2020 global biodiversity framework to be adopted at the upcoming UN Biodiversity Conference COP15 in Nairobi, Kenya.
“To achieve a sustainable future for all, we need to act urgently to protect biodiversity, the web of life that connects and supports us all,” said António Guterres, the Secretary General of the United Nations. “This year, governments will meet to agree on a post-2020 global biodiversity framework, with clear and measurable targets and robust means of implementation that can put biodiversity on the path to recovery by 2030. The framework must tackle the drivers of biodiversity loss and enable the ambitious and transformative change needed for living in harmony with nature by effectively protecting more of the world’s land, freshwater and oceans, encouraging sustainable consumption and production, employing nature-based solutions to address climate change and ending harmful subsidies that damage the environment. It should mobilise action and financial resources to drive concrete nature-positive investments, ensuring that we all benefit from the dividends of biological diversity.”
By releasing the suggestions and list of 22 actions, the Secretariat made it clear and in a more accessible way that it is time to take action for restoring biodiversity. A selection of actions includes cleaning up an area around us, whether it is a park, a forest, a beach, a riverside or even just a street; supporting wildlife shelters and rehabilitation centres by offering our time or financial support; planting native, pollinator-friendly trees, shrubs and plants to increase habitat and food sources for our local fauna.
Among the countries in Central and Eastern Europe, the Czech Republic is actively involved in meeting important goals, like strengthening the protection of protected areas, improving agricultural landscapes, forests and so on.
An important project that currently contributes to the protection and restoration of biodiversity is the Integrated LIFE project for the Natura 2000 network called One Nature. Thanks to more efficient management planning, research and using its results in practice also thanks to good cooperation with landowners and land users located in protected areas, the project helps to ensure the most suitable management and, above all, to preserve these valuable sites for the benefit of nature and people in the future.
The Czech Ministry of Environment is also calling upon its citizens to be more involved in biodiversity protection. For example, by not exploiting the soil too much and giving space to pollinators to live or by creating greener cities to live in.
