United States of America

In honor of the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity (IYB), the United States Forest Service is sponsoring the following programs:

• FOCUS (Forests, Ocean, Climate and US) a nationwide partnership with the Wyland Foundation, US Forest Service and NOAA which uses art and science to encourage young people to explore and appreciate the world around them. For 2010, students will celebrate biodiversity in Puerto Rico, Alaska, Virginia, Michigan, Texas and California. http://www.wylandfoundation.org

• Robert Bateman Get to Know Your Wild Neighbor program consists of an art contest, classroom programs, outdoor adventures, Natural Treasures Map, Virtual Hikes and many Bio Blitz competitions. This program is in partnership with the US Forest Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Wildlife Federation, the Children and Nature Network and California State Parks. http://www.gettoknow.ca

• Nature Watch provides children and adults the opportunity to safely view and participate in activities to raise awareness of wildlife, fish, plants and ecosystems. To learn more visit: http://www.fs.fed.us/outdoors/naturewatch/index.htm

US Forest Service IYB Contact: Gloria Manning, Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest Systems, +1-202-205-1523, [email protected].

The National Park Service is working to preserve biodiversity. Find more by visiting http://www.nature.nps.gov/biodiversity

Message from Edward Norton - United Nations Goodwill Ambassador for Biodiversity.

Dates and Venue	Event
1 January - 15 October 2010 Fargo Confirmed	International Year of Biodiversity Competition
27 January 2010 San Francisco	ecoReserve Open House
1 February - 31 May 2010 Arcata Confirmed	Biodiversity Series / Organized by Humboldt State University
10 February 2010 New York Confirmed	North American Launch of the International Year of Biodiversity Organized by: United Nations Development Programme
20 February 2010 Sanford Confirmed	2010 Seminole County Regional Science, Math and Engineering Fair
17 April 2010 Jupiter Island Confirmed	Sargassum Seaweed Project for the Health of the Next Generation of Sea Turtles
17 - 24 April 2010 Boston Confirmed	Ecolympics / Organized by Boston University and Core Curriculum
22 April 2010 New York	Biodiversity and Spirituality in the High Andes Organized by: United Nations
25 April 2010 New York Confirmed	Planning for Biodiversity: What Have We Got to Lose?
26 - 30 April 2010 Austin Confirmed	The NatureServe Conservation Conference 2010 and The Southeast Natural Heritage Conference - "A Network Connecting Science with Conservation" Organized by: NatureServe
30 April - 1 May 2010 Homestead Confirmed	National Geographic-National Park Service BioBlitz
30 April 2010 New York Confirmed	The Role of Biodiversity and Healthy Ecosystems in Supporting Child Health Organized by: UNEP Division of Environmental Conventions
4 May 2010 Washington Confirmed	“Celebrating Conservation in Action” Launch of the seminal publication: Important Bird Areas AMERICAS: Priority Sites for biodiversity conservation
5 May 2010 New York Confirmed	A Forum on Ensuring Human and Ecological Well-Being: Challenges and Opportunities Organized by: United Nations UNEP
7 May 2010 New York	Regenerative Land Practices in Colombia and Brazil
13 - 15 May 2010 New York Confirmed	High-Level Segment of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-18) Organized by: Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity
21 - 22 May 2010 New York Confirmed	Celebration of the International Day for Biodiversity at the Permanent Forum for Indigenous Issues Organized by: Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
21 - 22 May 2010 Washington	Arboretum BioBlitz 2010
24 - 27 May 2010 Washington Confirmed	Workshop on Attaining Operational Marine Biodiversity Observations
6 June - 19 November 2010 Washington Confirmed	The Biodiversity Observing Network (BON) Online Forum
11 - 12 June 2010 Nampa Confirmed	BioBlitz 2010 & Kids’ Fishing Day
July 2010 New York Tentative	IYB Celebrations at High-Level Segment of ECOSOC Organized by: Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity
28 July 2010 Bay Lake Confirmed	Disney’s Animal Kingdom to Celebrate the “International Year of Biodiversity”
10 - 20 August 2010 Arizona	Earthwatch Expeditions: Climate Change and Caterpillars
25 August - 23 October 2010 Fargo Confirmed	"Inspired by Nature" competition
3 - 4 September 2010 Lynnwood Confirmed	Micrososm: A Celebration of Biodiversity and Conservation
15 - 17 September 2010 Washington Confirmed	Celebrating the Web of Life : A Biodiversity Fair Organized by: World Bank
16 - 19 September 2010 Silver City Confirmed	Gila River Festival
18 - 19 September 2010 Crownsville	South River Greenway BioBlitz 2010
20 - 22 September 2010 New York Confirmed	United Nations General Assembly - High Level Segment Organized by: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
24 - 26 September 2010 Spokane Valley Confirmed	Regional Festival / Organized by Valleyfest in collaboration with Spokane River Forum and the Department of Fish and Wildlife, Parks and Recreation
7 October 2010 Berkeley	Seacology Award
12 October 2010 Ames Confirmed	Biodiversity World Tour - Stop #1: How are farmers around the world working today to protect their land and environment for future generations?
19 October 2010 Washington Confirmed	“Océans” and the Census of Marine Life: A Symposium on Ocean Exploration, Governance and Ten Years of Discovery
3 - 5 November 2010 New York Confirmed	Student Conference on Conservation Science (SCCS-NY)
7 - 10 November 2010 San Francisco Confirmed	The Global Summit 2010
19 - 23 March 2011 California	1st International Symposium on Wild Relatives of Subtropical and Temperate Fruit and Nut Crops

 

Young scientists from UNESCO Associated Schools (ASPnet) explore biodiversity Biodiversity and Sustainability was the subject of the 12th International Meeting of Young Scientists of the UNESCO Associated Schools, held in Santarém, Portugal, from 13 to 16 January. The meeting brought together 55 ASPnet students and teachers from 4 countries (Andorra, Portugal, Spain and United States of America) to launch the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity with students and a teacher from each country presenting their research on topics including Evolution, Biodiversity and Sustainability, Sustainability of the Systems of Animal Production, Public Health and Fight Against Poverty and Protected Areas and Biodiversity Maintenance. For more information: Article

American Paleontologist: Exploring the Tree of Life The “American Paleontologist” is a magazine of earth science published by the paleontological research institution and its museum of the earth. The Fall 2010 issue features an article (please see page 27) on the International Year of Biodiversity. Please click here to view the magazine

North American launch of the International Year of Biodiversity 2010 at the American Museum of Natural History, New York, 10 February 2010

The organization WildEarth Guardian organizes a "BioBlitz," in which they are taking actions for 36 consecutive working days (28 Dec 2009 – 18 Feb 2010) to celebrate the 36th anniversary of the U.S. Endangered Species Act (28 Dec 2009) and in honor of the International Year of Biodiversity. The BioBlitz is headquartered out of Denver, Colorado.

2010: The Year for Our Wildlife
Nearly 18 years ago, the U.S. provided vital leadership in negotiating the Convention on Biological Diversity -- a vital international agreement to protect and preserve the world’s rich diversity of life. Now the U.S. and tiny Andorra are the only countries in the world that have failed to ratify this important accord.

In 2010 -- the International Year of Biodiversity -- the U.S. has an opportunity to reestablish its role as a global leader in wildlife conservation. But your senators need to hear from you! Take Action.

While the World Waits: Environmental groups determined to see U.S. ratification. San Diego News Room presents this article as part of a series reexamining the Convention on Biological Diversity and exploring the key issues at play in its 18-year saga toward U.S. ratification.

The Ecolympics - A way to galvanize individual action To celebrate the International Year of Biodiversity and to raise awareness of the current crisis in biodiversity loss, Alex Coverdill and Ph.D. Daniel Hudon, together with a team of students organized a week-long series of participatory events at Boston University called the Ecolympics. They ran from April 17-24 and events were geared toward the themes of sustainability, reduction of the human footprint on the environment and education about biodiversity. *Photo: Camille Dupaquier – 2010 Photo Contest Winner!

Draft Report on Attaining an Operational Marine Biodiversity Observation Network Available for Review and Comment
The steering committee has completed the draft report from the workshop, which includes seven recommendations and case studies for implementing a national marine Biodiversity Observing Network (BON). The report is available for review and comment at http://www.nopp.org/forum through 19 November 2010. The steering committee encourages input from the scientific and policy community on the draft report. A final report is expected in January 2011. For further information on the workshop or report, please contact [email protected].

HabitatNet Celebrates 2010 – International Year of Biodiversity HabitatNet Project, Brown University – Providence, RI

The i2P Amazon Expedition The i2P Amazon Expedition team is assembling to depart for Brazil. There are 108 schools in six countries and a total of 15,266 students registered to follow the expedition!