On 22 May each year, nations around the globe observe the International Day for Biological Diversity, commemorating the adoption of the Convention on Biological Diversity in 1992. This annual occasion serves as a vital reminder of the fundamental importance of biodiversity in sustaining life on Earth, as it plays a critical role in maintaining the stability and resilience of ecosystems. The ongoing loss of biodiversity constitutes not only an environmental crisis but also a direct threat to human well-being and the livelihoods of communities worldwide. The protection of endangered species and their natural habitats has thus become an imperative that necessitates robust and sustained international cooperation.
In observance of this important day, the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States, in collaboration with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) – West Asia Office, organised a commemorative event. The celebration was held on the sidelines of the meeting of the Arab Group for Monitoring International Environmental Agreements, which took place from 18 to 22 May at the League's General Secretariat headquarters.
His Excellency Ambassador Dr. Ali bin Ibrahim Al-Maliki, head of the Economic Affairs Sector, affirmed that this year's celebration is held under the theme "Harmony with Nature and Sustainable Development." The theme underscores the pressing need to align the objectives of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda with the targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework—two interdependent global commitments that must be pursued in parallel, with a spirit of solidarity and collective responsibility, as advocated by the Global Compact for the Future.
Biodiversity remains a key area of focus for the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States, particularly through the Department of Environment and Meteorology, which serves as the Technical Secretariat of the Council of Arab Ministers Responsible for the Environment. The Arab Group for Monitoring International Environmental Agreements on Biodiversity and Combating Desertification plays a central role in this regard. The Group convenes annually to coordinate Arab positions and unify regional perspectives in relevant international forums, including the meetings of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.
