Barbados will join worldwide celebrations to mark International Biodiversity Day on Thursday, May 22.

Under the global theme Island Biodiversity, the Ministry of the Environment and Drainage, as the focal point for the Convention on Biological Diversity, will conduct school tours of the Barbados Wildlife Reserve and Grenade Hall, to raise awareness of the significance of managing the island???s biodiversity in a sustainable manner.

On Wednesday, May 21, students of St. Bartholomew???s Primary School will tour the Grenade Hall at 10:15 a.m. and then the Wildlife Reserve at 11:20 a.m.

Students of St. Christopher???s Primary School will tour the Wildlife Reserve at 10:15 a.m. before moving onto the Grenade Hall at 11:20 a.m.

Students of Ellerton Primary School will have their tour on Thursday, May 22, beginning with the tour at Grenade Hall at 10:15 a.m. before going onto the Wildlife Reserve at 11:20 a.m.

On Friday, May 23, students of the Wesley Hall Infants School, will tour the Grenade Hall at 10:15 a.m. and then the Wildlife Reserve at 11:20 a.m.

This year???s theme, Island Biodiversity, carries special significance as it coincides with the designation by the United Nations General Assembly of 2014 as the International Year of Small Island Developing States.

The International Day for Biological Diversity provides an opportunity to communicate and involve the public in building awareness on the value of biodiversity for human wellbeing around the world.

It also offers an opportunity to highlight issues of relevance for island states that have island ecosystems as part of their national biodiversity heritage, issues of climate change, marine and coastal biodiversity, invasive alien species, species threatened with extinction, tourism and biodiversity.

julia.rawlins-bentham@barbados.gov.bb

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