The Nature Conservation Day and the International Day for Biological Diversity were marked on 22 May 2024 in Maksimir Park in Zagreb, Croatia. The event designed for the general public was organized by the Public Institution “Priroda Grada Zagreba”. By presenting their institutions, the event was also celebrated by other public institutions managing protected parts of nature, non-governmental organisations, and the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition.
The International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) is celebrated every year on 22 May. That day was proclaimed in 1993 by the United Nations commemorating the adoption of the Convention on Biological Diversity signed at the UN Conference held in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. The main objective of celebrating this day is to increase public awareness about the importance of preserving biological diversity which is of vital importance for the present and future generations, with its preservation a shared duty of all human beings.
Croatia also takes care about preserving biodiversity and improving nature protection. Based on a 2003 Decision of Croatian Parliament, 22 May is also celebrated as the Nature Conservation Day in Croatia.
The theme of this year’s IDB is “Be part of the Plan”. It is a call to action for all stakeholders by supporting the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (referred to as “The Biodiversity Plan”), the purpose of which is to halt the loss of global ecosystems and wildlife species.
Biodiversity represents all living organisms, including diversity within and among species and diversity of animal communities and ecosystems. Preserved biodiversity provides ecosystem services such as food, drinking water, climate regulation, and flood prevention.
There are nearly 40,000 known species and sub-species in Croatia, even though their number is assumed to be considerably higher. Around 3% of the total number of the known species are endemic species - species with a confined geographic range. A serious threat to the preservation of biodiversity comes from the spread of invasive alien species which adversely affect the biodiversity of an area and native species such as the freshwater softmouth trout. Preserving this species and improving its habitat is the central activity of the “Improve River LIFE Project”.
By taking part at this event and presenting our project, we have contributed to marking the Nature Conservation Day and the International Day for Biological Diversity and to educating the public about the importance of removing artificial barriers from watercourses in order to improve the conservation status of native and endangered species.