The United Nations marks its Decade on Biodiversity 2011-2020
Giving credence to its strategic plan on biodiversity and its overall vision of living in harmony with nature, the United Nations launched the Decade on Biodiversity at Kanazawa in Japan on December 17, 2011.
Kiyo Akasaka, under-secretary-general for communications and public information said on behalf of secretary-general Ban Ki-moon, this initiative is in line with the declaration made by the General Assembly.
"Ensuring truly sustainable development for our growing human family depends on biological diversity and the vital goods and services it offers. While the poor suffer first and worst from biodiversity loss, all of society stands to lose from this mass extinction.
There are also the opportunity costs what cures for disease, and what other useful discoveries, might we never know of because a habitat is destroyed forever, or land is polluted beyond all use?"
The main goal is to mainstream biodiversity at different levels. Throughout the decade, governments are encouraged to develop, implement and communicate the results of national strategies for implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity.
In his own statement at the launch of the Decade, Mr. Akasaka stressed that stable ecosystems have the capacity to create jobs.
"Sustaining them sustains job growth," he said. "With the world undergoing a youth bulge, sustainable use of biodiversity is not an isolated 'ecological' green approach, but an indispensable pillar of sustainable development for future generations," said Mr. Akasaka.
"For the next 10 years our commitment to protecting more than eight million species, and our wisdom in contributing to a balance of life, will be put to a test," he said.
Read more interesting articles about Biodiversity
