21 May 2014 – The United Nations has proclaimed May 22 The International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. When first created by the Second Committee of the UN General Assembly in late 1993, 29 December (the date of entry into force of the Convention of Biological Diversity), was designated The International Day for Biological Diversity. In December 2000, the UN General Assembly adopted 22 May as IDB, to commemorate the adoption of the text of the Convention on 22 May 1992 by the Nairobi Final Act of the Conference for the Adoption of the Agreed Text of the Convention on Biological Diversity. This was partly done because it was difficult for many countries to plan and carry out suitable celebrations for the date of 29 December, given the number of holidays that coincide around that time of year. [...]

Islands and their surrounding near-shore marine areas constitute unique irreplaceable ecosystems often comprising many plant and animal species that are found nowhere else on Earth. They are also key to the livelihood, economy, well-being and cultural identity of 600 million islanders—one-tenth of the world’s population. Read Messages of support from the United Nations Secretary General, the President of the United Nations General Assembly, the Executive Secretary to the CBD and others.[...]  http://www.cbd.int/idb/2014/

In Italia:

Orto Botanico Lucca, 22-24 maggio 2014
The botanical garden of Lucca (Tuscany), celebrates the International Day for Biological Diversity 2014 with a conference on Tuscan archipelago flora and vegetation, as well as guided tours to showcase rare plants specimens native to islands.
Le Jardin botanique de Lucques (Toscane) célébrera la Journée internationale de la biodiversité par une conférence sur la flore et la végétation de l’archipel toscan et des visites guidées sur les plantes rares des îles qui sont dans le Jardin

Settimana della Biodiversità, 12-17 May 2014, Siena

Biodiversity: a necessity for all of us, Activities for the public at the Botanical garden / Attività all’orto boratnico di Siena, aperte al pubblico