International Day for Biodiversity 2026: Acting locally for global impact

May 22 each year has been designated by the United Nations as the International Day for Biodiversity to raise global awareness of the value and importance of biodiversity for sustainable development. In 2026, the United Nations launched the International Day for Biodiversity under the theme “Acting locally for global impact,” emphasizing the critical role of local and community-level actions and initiatives in effectively advancing biodiversity goals, while calling for a “whole-of-society” approach to implementing the National Biodiversity Strategy and the 23 targets of the Kunming - Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework under the Convention on Biological Diversity.

In response to the International Day for Biodiversity 2026, under Official Dispatch No. 4167/BNNMT-BTTN, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has requested ministries, central agencies, mass organizations, and People’s Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities to provide direction, guidance, and proactively organize practical activities.

Specifically, the Ministry calls on relevant bodies to carry out communication and awareness-raising activities through mass media on the significance and messages of the International Day for Biodiversity 2026; organize events such as rallies, thematic workshops, seminars, exhibitions, and contests on biodiversity, in conjunction with disseminating Party guidelines, State policies and laws, as well as initiatives and solutions; and honor outstanding organizations and individuals for their contributions and initiatives in biodiversity conservation and sustainable use.

The Ministry also encourages the launch of movements on nature and biodiversity conservation tailored to local conditions; promotes the participation of communities, businesses, and socio-political organizations in practical actions such as tree planting, forest protection, environmental protection, and the development of community-based conservation models and sustainable use of natural resources and biodiversity, contributing to climate change adaptation.

It further calls for promoting the implementation of the National Biodiversity Strategy; advancing digital transformation, applying science and technology, and nature-based solutions; strengthening multi-stakeholder partnerships in biodiversity conservation; and encouraging organizations and individuals to enter into agreements with management authorities and implement standards and voluntary commitments on nature and biodiversity conservation.

In addition, the Ministry emphasizes the need to enhance guidance and inspection of the implementation of biodiversity-related policies and laws, particularly the Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of 15 laws in the agriculture and environment sectors (Law No. 146/2025/QH15) and its recently issued guiding documents; and to prevent violations in natural resource exploitation as well as illegal trade and consumption of wildlife.