I am happy to know that the Department of Environment & Forests, Andaman and Nicobar Islands will be observing the "International Day for Biological Diversity" on 22nd May, 2024 in these Islands along with rest of the country, and world on the theme "Be part of the Plan".

"Be part of the Plan", the theme of IDB 2024, is a call to action for all stakeholders to halt and reverse the loss of biodiversity by supporting the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, also referred to as The Biodiversity Plan. The Biodiversity Plan offers opportunities for cooperation and partnerships among diverse actors. Governments, indigenous people and local communities, non-governmental organizations, lawmakers, businesses, and individuals are encouraged to highlight the ways in which they are supporting the implementation of the Biodiversity Plan. Everyone has a role to play and therefore can Be Part of the Plan. Biodiversity is the living fabric of our planet. It underpins human well-being in the present and in the future, and its rapid decline threatens nature and people alike.

On the International Day for Biological Diversity, we reflect on our relationship with humanity's life-support system. From the air we breathe and the food we eat, to the energy that fuels us and the medicines that heal us, our lives are wholly dependent on healthy ecosystems. Yet our actions are devastating every corner of the planet. One million species are at risk of extinction — the result of habitat degradation, skyrocketing pollution, and the worsening climate crisis. We must end this war on nature. Therefore, I appeal to the nature loving people of our Islands to seize this momentous occasion to shift from words to action, working together to restore and safeguard the precious biodiversity of our planet. May 22 is a day to unite, showcase our progress, and pave the way for a brighter future for all living beings.

Happy International Day for Biological Diversity to all Islanders.

Admiral D.K. Joshi

PVSM, AVSM, YSM, NM, VSM (Retd.)

Lieutenant Governor, A&N Islands

& Vice Chairman, Islands Development Agency