International Day for Biological Diversity 2026

International Day for Biological Diversity is observed on 22 May every year under the Convention on Biological Diversity. The 2026 theme is “Acting locally for global impact”. Odisha’s tribal seed conservation practices, community seed banks, and millet diversity are linked with biodiversity conservation, traditional agriculture, and climate-resilient farming.

International Day for Biological Diversity

The United Nations observes the International Day for Biological Diversity on 22 May. The day is associated with the Convention on Biological Diversity, which was opened for signature at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. The observance is used for biodiversity-related awareness across ecosystems, species, and genetic resources.

Seed Conservation in Odisha

Odisha has active indigenous seed conservation practices in tribal and rainfed regions. Adivasi farmers preserve traditional seeds and farming methods that have been transmitted across generations. Women seed custodians in the state maintain traditional millet varieties and other local crops adapted to specific soils and rainfall patterns.

Community Seed Banks and Tribal Farming

Community seed banks are local storage systems for indigenous crop varieties. In the Eastern Ghats of Odisha, Kondh and Paraja women are associated with community seed banks that protect millet, pulses, and paddy varieties. These seed banks help maintain genetic diversity in crops and support local farming systems in highland areas.

Important Facts for Exams

• The International Day for Biological Diversity is observed on 22 May.
• The 2026 theme is “Acting locally for global impact”.
• The Convention on Biological Diversity was opened for signature in 1992 at Rio de Janeiro.
• Millet is a group of small-seeded cereals grown in dry and semi-arid regions.

Projects and Institutional Support

The DIVERSIFARM-India project is led by the Fridtjof Nansen Institute and the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation. The project works on seed systems through community seed banks for food, nutrition, and livelihoods of small farmers. WASSAN and the Shree Anna Abhiyan conducted 253 participatory varietal trials across 30 districts of Odisha between 2018 and 2024.

Millets and Climate-Resilient Agriculture

Millets are cereal crops that include finger millet, pearl millet, and sorghum. They are grown in rainfed areas and are associated with lower water requirement than many other cereals. Indigenous seed selection after harvest is a common practice in Odisha for maintaining crop adaptation to local climatic stress.