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On Monday, May 22, International Day for
Biological Diversity will be celebrated worldwide under the theme
“Protect Biodiversity in Drylands”. Biodiversity Day commemorates the
signing of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) at the Earth
Summit, also known as the Rio Summit, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in
1992. The Convention required that States adopt and carry out policies
to protect and sustainably use its biological diversity, and came out
of the concerns of scientists that the loss of biodiversity was
leading to rates of extinction that were far greater than expected.
The objectives of the convention include the conservation of
biological diversity, sustainable use of its components and fair and
equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of
the genetic resources.
Biodiversity is the shortened version of the term
Biological Diversity, which describes the richness, abundance and
variability of plant and animal species and communities and the
ecological processes that link them with one another and with soil,
air and water.
In keeping with this year’s
theme, Jamaica will focus on showcasing the importance and
diversity of our Dry Limestone Forests. Generally, forest areas in
Jamaica are the primary repository of biodiversity, particularly
endemic flora and fauna. Consequently, conservation and sustainable
use of our forest resources will be critical to wider biodiversity
conservation strategies.
Jamaica’s ratification of the Convention on
January 6, 1995, signaled the island’s commitment to the conservation
and sustainable use and understanding of the essential role and values
of biodiversity to current and future generations. The National
Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) is one of the Government
entities through which the requirements of the Convention are being
fulfilled. One such effort is the development of the National Strategy
and Action Plan on Biological Diversity in Jamaica, which was
published in 2003.
NEPA encourages all Jamaicans to learn more about
our country’s Biological Diversity and, more importantly, to take
steps for the protection and conservation of our plants and animals.
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