In October officials from 193 countries will gather in Japan to agree how to tackle biodiversity loss and set new targets to conserve biodiversity for the next ten years, and develop a vision for 2050.
On International Day for Biological Diversity, the Natural Environment Minister Richard Benyon meets Natural History Museum curator Miranda Lowe and BBC Springwatch presenters, Chris Packham and Martin Hughes Games, prior to launching the Young Darwin Prize at the Natural History Museum.
Scientists have pulled together all the latest facts and figures about species counts and habitat assessments to form a single report outlining the current state of biodiversity and the pressures we are exerting on nature.
This is the first in a series of Views articles submitted by IYB-UK partners.
As a child I took the natural world for granted. I had the great privilege to grow up on the Gower peninsula in South Wales, a rich mix of heath, marsh, dunes and woodland, designated the first ever Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1956.
2010 has been declared the International Year of Biodiversity by the United Nations – the year that celebrates the diversity of life on Earth, including every plant, animal and micro-organism.
In the UK, IYB has over 200 partners ranging from universities, media organisations and museums to theatre companies and artists.
In October officials from 193 countries will gather in Japan to agree how to tackle biodiversity loss and set new targets to conserve biodiversity for the next ten years, and develop a vision for 2050.
