22 May 2011
22 May is celebrated as International Day for Biological Diversity .2011 is the International Year of Forests and forest biodiversity is the theme for this year's International Day of Biodiversity (IDB). Designation of IDB 2011 on the theme of forests provides Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and everyone interested in forests, the opportunity to raise awareness of the issue and increase practical action.
The United Nations proclaimed May 22 The International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. When first created by the Second Committee of the UN General Assembly in late 1993, 29 December (the date of entry into force of the Convention of Biological Diversity), was designated The International Day for Biological Diversity.
The U.S. Postal Service has unveiled a new postage stamp to raise money to protect endangered species, including tigers, rhinos and marine turtles. The stamp features an Amur tiger cub and is the result of a 10-year effort led by World Wildlife Fund (WWF), in partnership with the U.S. Postal Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other international conservation organizations.
The Save Vanishing Species stamp will go on sale in September for a premium above the normal first-class rate and will be available for purchase at all U.S. post offices. All proceeds raised will go to benefit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Multinational Species Conservation Funds, which support efforts by numerous conservation organizations, including WWF, to protect wild populations of tigers, rhinos, elephants, great apes and marine turtles. The new stamp marks the fourth semipostal issued by the U.S. Postal Service.