International Day for Biological Diversity
A/RES/55/201
A/RES/55/201
This authority record treats the observance as a fixed annual date. The same month and day can be reused unless a stronger source changes the rule. Public-holiday or government status is never inferred from the observance name alone.
Overview
International Day for Biological Diversity is observed on 22 May to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity and the many ways living systems support ecosystems, communities and economies.
Biodiversity includes variation within species, between species and among ecosystems. The day can therefore cover habitats, genetic diversity, wildlife, agriculture, restoration, conservation and the human decisions that affect living systems.
Why it matters
The observance encourages people to connect local actions with the larger task of conserving and sustainably using biodiversity. It is especially useful for learning how land use, consumption, invasive species, pollution and climate pressures can interact with ecosystems.
Activities are strongest when they are locally grounded: learning which species and habitats actually occur nearby is more useful than treating biodiversity as an abstract global idea.
History
The UN originally designated 29 December, the date the Convention on Biological Diversity entered into force, as the International Day for Biological Diversity.
In 2000, the UN General Assembly adopted 22 May as the observance date to commemorate adoption of the text of the Convention on Biological Diversity on 22 May 1992.
How the observance developed
This timeline is assembled only from verified provenance fields. Missing stages are omitted rather than inferred.
United Nations General Assembly
UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/49/119
First documented observance
A United Nations/UNEP press release describes 29 December 1995 as the first International Day for Biological Diversity.
Changed the annual observance date from 29 December to 22 May, the anniversary of adoption of the Convention text.
United Nations General Assembly · UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/55/201
What the evidence establishes
Verified institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Fields that the reviewed sources do not establish remain fail-closed and are available below without competing with the confirmed record.
3 fields not established in reviewed sources
Later institutional actions
Later recognition, renaming, mergers or date changes are kept separate from original establishment.
Ways to observe
Identify native species in a local park, garden or school grounds using a reputable field guide or biodiversity database.
Join a habitat-restoration, invasive-species removal or community science activity run by a credible local organization.
Review how a garden, campus or workplace landscape could provide more habitat through native plants and reduced pesticide use.
Learn about one protected area or threatened ecosystem in your region and the communities involved in its stewardship.
Choose one purchasing or waste-reduction change that reduces unnecessary pressure on land, forests, oceans or wildlife.
Useful facts
International Day for Biological Diversity is observed on 22 May.
The observance was originally associated with 29 December.
The UN General Assembly changed the date to 22 May in 2000.
The current date commemorates adoption of the text of the Convention on Biological Diversity on 22 May 1992.
The purpose of the day is to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
Evidence & sources
Repeated links from the authority record, institutional provenance and editorial guide research are consolidated here. Badges show how each source is used; a contextual source is never treated as proof of establishment on its own.
Convention on Biological Diversity — International Day for Biological Diversity (opens in a new tab)
United Nations Digital Library — A/RES/49/119 (opens in a new tab)
United Nations Digital Library — A/RES/55/201 (opens in a new tab)
United Nations Meetings Coverage — first International Day for Biological Diversity (opens in a new tab)
cbd.int — authoritative source (opens in a new tab)
un.org — authoritative source (opens in a new tab)
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then use reviewed distinctions and related authority records to understand where this observance fits.
Frequently asked questions
When is International Day for Biological Diversity?
22 May The stored recurrence guidance is: 22 May.
Does International Day for Biological Diversity fall on the same date every year?
The authority record classifies it as fixed annual, so its month and day are reusable unless stronger evidence changes the rule.
Is International Day for Biological Diversity an official public holiday?
The authority record verifies it within this scope: United Nations / Convention on Biological Diversity observance. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when the supporting authority record explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes International Day for Biological Diversity?
The reviewed provenance layer identifies United Nations General Assembly as the proclaiming or establishing body.
Is International Day for Biological Diversity international or country-specific?
The record has international or global institutional scope: United Nations / Convention on Biological Diversity observance. That does not mean every country treats the date as a public holiday or observes it in the same way.
How is this page verified?
The factual layer is source-backed and keeps its date rule, scope, provenance and editorial guardrails attached to the authority record. This record was checked on 2026-09-05.
When is International Day for Biological Diversity?
It is observed every year on 22 May.
Why did the date change from 29 December to 22 May?
The UN General Assembly changed the date in 2000 so the observance would commemorate adoption of the Convention’s text on 22 May 1992 and be easier for countries to organize around.
What does biodiversity mean?
In the Convention on Biological Diversity context, biodiversity covers the variety of life within species, between species and across ecosystems.
Other observances on May 22
These records also resolve to May 22, 2027 under the current authority data.
Commemoration of the abolition of slavery — Martinique
French Labour Code article L3422-2 designates 22 May in Martinique as a public holiday for the commemoration of the abolition of slavery.
Harvey Milk Day
California Department of Education cites Education Code section 37222.13 designating May 22 of each year as Harvey Milk Day and encouraging educational remembrance
National Craft Distillery Day
National Day Calendar identifies Nicholas Strauser, Connie Strauser and Brandy Strauser-Sobanski of N Scott Distillery as the 2019 founders and records May 22 as the annual observance date.
National Maritime Day
United States Code, title 36 §128
National Vanilla Pudding Day
Two Association of Nutrition & Foodservice Professionals chapter calendars list National Vanilla Pudding Day on 22 May.
World Goth Day
World Goth Day organizers