International Day for Biological Diversity May 22, 2024

International Day for Biological Diversity

Today we"re celebrating the biodiversity of our planet. What exactly is biodiversity? It refers to the variety of living things, from animals and plants to fungi and microorganisms, in one area. This delicate but vigorous balance in nature is what keeps us all alive. That"s definitely worth celebrating! May 22 was named International Day for Biological Diversity by the United Nations in 2000. Unfortunately, the biodiversity of Earth is slowly decreasing due to climate change, the draining of natural resources, urbanization, and pollution, among other factors. Campaigners are urging governments, businesses and individuals to take action to boost biodiversity, to protect healthy ecosystems that supply us with water, food, medicines, and more. After all, we are blessed with intriguing species such as the Tasmanian snow gum—the tree seen in today"s image—that takes root in one of the most biologically diverse places on the planet, the Mount Field National Park in Tasmania, Australia.

© Ignacio Palacios/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

May 22, 2018Happy birthday to Crater Lake National Park
May 22, 2019The artists come to Venice
May 22, 2020The scene of a literary crime
May 22, 2021Blue paradise on the Costa Brava
May 22, 2022International Day for Biological Diversity
May 22, 2023International Day for Biodiversity
May 22, 2025International Day for Biological Diversity

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Nov 13, 2025Quiver trees, Keetmanshoop, Namibia
Oct 2, 2022Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
Jun 19, 2025Happy Juneteenth!
Dec 15, 2023SantaPark, Lapland, Finland
Jun 11, 2023Goliath heron in Kruger National Park, South Africa
May 16, 2022Burrowing owls
May 1, 2021It s Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Oct 29, 2025Ancient til trees in Fanal Forest, Madeira, Portugal
Jan 21, 2026Squirrel Appreciation Day
Apr 22, 2019Meet our fuzzy Earth Day mascot
Dec 30, 2018Adorably evolutionary sea sheep
Oct 7, 2021Great on so many levels
Feb 5, 2022Monarch butterflies in Angangueo, Mexico
Nov 28, 2019Wild turkeys in repose
Feb 25, 2022 Legacy mural in Philadelphia
Apr 17, 2024Black bear cub emerging into spring
Sep 4, 2022Arambol Beach, Goa, India
Sep 16, 2018Mexico celebrates its Independence Day
Mar 7, 2020Summer winds down in the Southern Hemisphere
Jan 12, 2021Sailing on thick ice
Apr 5, 2023Black grouses lekking
Oct 18, 2019Fall color sweeps across the West
Nov 22, 2023Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Nov 17, 2022National Take a Hike Day
Jul 1, 2018Let the games begin
Sep 29, 2025The Rainbow Houses of Houten, Netherlands
Mar 21, 2021A glimpse of the Blue Forest
Jan 20, 2026Penguin Awareness Day
Jun 1, 2019Hiking the High Trestle Trail
Aug 4, 2024Friendship Day