2010 is the United Nations’-designated ‘International Year of Biodiversity’ (IYB).

The intention of the IYB is to raise the awareness of the critical importance of biodiversity for humanity, including the ecosystem services required to support all socio-economic development – with the slogan ‘Biodiversity is life; biodiversity is our life’. The Secretariat of the CBD is the designated focal point for IYB activities and has issued a comprehensive IYB Plan of Implementation, calling on CBD Parties, international organisations (such as GBIF) and others to take it up. At GB16, the Plan of Implementation was raised by the Executive Secretary in his annual  report presentation, and presented in detail by the IYB Programme Officer from the CBD Secretariat.

Following a recommendation by the Science Committee, endorsed by the Executive Committee, the Governing Board approved the IYB call for action and agreed to seek ways to identify, plan and roll-out awareness-raising events during 2010. Importantly is the need to brand all GBIF activities in 2010 as supporting the IYB. The GBIF Secretariat will partner with the CBD Secretariat in coordinating GBIF-related activities under the IYB banner, and all GBIF Participants are encouraged to communicate with the GBIF Secretariat on their plans, possible events where the Secretariat can assist, and for support materials such as the IYB 2010 logo, copies of the Plan of Implementation, etc.