Ecological holidays and dates of the world. Detailed ecological calendar. World meteorological day

Under the auspices of the UN

International Decades declared by the UN:

2005–2015 - International Decade for Action “Water for Life”;
2006–2016 - Decade of rehabilitation and sustainable development of the affected regions (third decade after Chernobyl);
2008–2017 - Second United Nations Decade to End Poverty;
2010–2020 - UN Decade for Deserts and the Fight against Desertification;
2011–2020 - Decade of Action for Road Safety;
2011–2020 - UN Decade on Biodiversity;
2013–2022 - International Decade for the Rapprochement of Cultures;
2014–2024 - Decade of Sustainable Energy for All.

UN General Assembly proclaimed 2015

International year soil. Noting that soils are the foundation of agricultural development and food security, and thus are key to sustaining life on Earth, recognizing that the sustainability of soil management is key to addressing the challenges of population growth, the United Nations has decided declare 5 December as World Soil Day and declare 2015 the International Year of Soils. >>>

International Year of Light and Lighting Technologies. Recognizing the importance of light and light technology to the lives of citizens around the world, noting that 2015 will be a jubilee for a number of important milestones in the history of the science of light, and believing that celebrating the anniversaries of these discoveries in 2015 will open up vast opportunities to celebrate a continuous the nature of the process of scientific knowledge in various fields, the United Nations decided to declare 2015 the International Year of Light and Light Technologies. >>>

2015 was declared the Year of the Snow Leopard at the World Snow Leopard Conservation Forum (with participation from the snow leopard range countries). The snow leopard or irbis is one of the most mysterious and little-studied animals on the planet. Its habitat today includes the territories of 12 countries of the world - Afghanistan, Bhutan, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan. In Russia, this graceful cat lives mainly within the Altai-Sayan ecoregion - in the mountains of the Republics of Altai, Tyva and Buryatia and in the south of the Krasnoyarsk Territory. According to experts, there are from 3.5 to 7.5 thousand snow leopards in the world, while in Russia their number does not exceed 70-90 individuals. The global population of the snow leopard is steadily declining, and the conservation of this species requires coordinated efforts from all countries in its range. On the eve of the forum, experts from WWF and the Russian Academy of Sciences developed a national snow leopard conservation strategy in Russia for 2014-2022. In addition, October 23 is declared the Day of the Snow Leopard in 12 countries participating in the World Forum.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree according to which 2015 was declared the Year of Literature in the Russian Federation. The Year of Literature is aimed at increasing the efficiency of publishing, increasing interest in reading and increasing the popularity of Russian literature in the country and abroad. It is assumed that all efforts and funds will be distributed through the established Foundation for the Support of Literature and grants. >>>

International Day of Mobilization Against the Threat of Nuclear War;

World Wetlands Day;

Day of action against dams. Day of Action in Defense of Rivers, Water and Life;

World Water Day;

World Earth Day;

International Bird Day;

Week in September - Global Action “Cleanse the Planet of Garbage”;

2nd Wednesday of October - International Day for Prevention of Natural Disasters;

January 29 – Mobilization Day Against the Threat of Nuclear War ... This day is celebrated on the anniversary of the adoption of the Delhi Declaration on January 28, 1985, which calls for an end to the nuclear arms race, the reduction and subsequent elimination of nuclear arsenals and the elimination of the very threat of nuclear war. It was adopted at the meeting of the heads of state and government of India, Argentina, Greece, Mexico, Tanzania and Sweden, held in the capital of India.

February 2 - World wetland day celebrated since the 2 February 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar was signed the convention, which received the official name "Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, Mainly as Habitats of Waterfowl" and became the first international treaty on the protection and rational use of natural resources. The Ramsar Convention was initiated by the International Bureau for the Study of Wetlands and Waterfowl.

The title of the treaty reflects the original emphasis on the conservation and wise use of wetlands, primarily for the provision of waterfowl habitat. However, over the years, the Convention has expanded the scope of its activities, covering all aspects of the protection and wise use of wetlands, highlighting them as ecosystems that are extremely important for the conservation of biodiversity and the maintenance of the well-being of the world's population.

The Treaty entered into force in 1975 and by January 2000 there were 117 Contracting Parties and 1,011 sites were included in the List of Sites of International Importance (Ramsar Sites) created under the convention. The status of these sites is kept in the International Bureau of Wetlands and Waterfowl Database and is constantly updated. One of the main conditions for joining the Ramsar Convention is the declaration by the government of the country of at least one Ramsar site on its territory.

UNESCO serves as Depositary of the Convention and its administrative functions are entrusted to a secretariat known as the "Ramsar Office", which is managed by IUCN - International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (Gland, Switzerland) under the direction of the Standing Committee of the Convention. - Unreasonable destruction of forests and drainage of swamps can lead to the emergence of new deserts. According to the Society for the Conservation of Nature, the area of ​​forests on Earth has halved over the past hundred years. However, if the value of a forest seems obvious, then swamps are usually viewed exclusively as useless, even harmful, natural formations. Only in the seventies of the last century, environmental scientists began to talk about the fact that swamps play a huge role in the life of waterfowl - as their nesting places. The total destruction of swamps inevitably entails a reduction in the number of birds, and puts some species on the brink of extinction. Therefore, it is important that some marshes are definitely preserved: they are of economic, cultural, scientific and recreational (habitat) value.

March 14th - Action Day Against Dams ... International Day Against Dams is celebrated at the initiative of the International Rivers Network (USA). "For rivers, water and life" is the motto of this day.

Over the past half century, 30-60 million people have been displaced as a result of the construction of large dams around the world. Due to the construction of dams, a total of 400 thousand square meters were flooded. km. the most fertile lands and valuable forests. Dams are the main reason that one-fifth of the world's freshwater fish species are either extinct or endangered.

22 march - World water day (World Day for the Conservation of Water Resources). This holiday is celebrated all over the world on March 22nd. The tradition dates back to 1922, when, in the framework of the UN Conference on Environmental Protection, held in Rio de Janeiro, the UN General Assembly announced that events related to the protection and development of water resources should be held annually on March 22. In our country, the Day of Water was first celebrated in 1995 under the motto “Water is life”. For the first time in the museum, Water Day was celebrated in 2002. International Decade for Action "Water for Life" (2005-2015). On 23 December 2003 (International Year of Freshwater), the General Assembly proclaimed the period 2005-2015, commencing on 22 March 2005, as the International Decade for Action “Water for Life” (resolution 58/217). Water is vital for maintaining the health of ecosystems, for sustainable development and human survival. Already today it is lacking in many parts of the world. According to UN experts, approximately 1/6 of the world's population does not have access to clean drinking water, and 1/3 to domestic water. Every eight seconds a child dies from water-related diseases. 10% of all fresh water consumed on the globe is used for domestic purposes, about 20% - for the needs of industry and about 70% is used for irrigation. Therefore, the lack of water in the near future may lead to a food crisis. The reduction of fresh water reserves on the planet is due to wasteful water use, population growth, destruction of forests, and environmental pollution. Global climate change could further complicate the water supply situation. In the current state of affairs, by the middle of the 21st century, at least 2 billion people from 48 countries of the world will face water shortages. In the worst case, according to UN experts, it will affect 7 billion people from 60 countries. Due to the growing global water scarcity, today's oil wars may be replaced by water wars in the future. The goal of the Decade is to further develop international cooperation to address pressing water-related problems and to contribute to the achievement of agreed water targets. The lead organization for coordinating the activities of all stakeholders is the Commission on Sustainable Development.

March 30 - Earth protection day ... Celebrated annually by the Arab population of the occupied territories and Israel in memory of the patriots killed by the Israeli police in 1976 during a protest against Israel's violent confiscation of Arab lands.

April 1 . - Bird day... The "oldest" of the holidays in the ecological calendar is the Day of the Birds. The lines “Letting the bird go free” belong to A. Pushkin. And he referred us to the "custom of antiquity." But in Pushkin's time, the festival of birds was not ecological, but seasonal in nature: the arrival of rooks, starlings and other migratory travelers marked the onset of spring. On this day, it was customary to sculpt larks out of dough and sing special chants. The Day of Birds acquired an ecological character by the end of the 19th century. One of the articles of the magazine "Kindergarten" for 1875 tells about the Dutch holiday, at which children gathering in the square, take a solemn oath not to kill little birds and destroy their nests. Apparently, this activity was widespread fun among the child population (a kind of children's hunting), if you had to fight it with the help of special measures. The first International Convention for the Conservation of Birds was signed in 1906. After the revolution, Russia was not up to the observance of conventions of this kind. But Bird Day was celebrated in schools and youth circles. For the first time, the Day of Birds was held in 1924 under the guidance of teacher Mazurov at the Ermola school in the Smolensk region. In 1928, 65 thousand children took part in this holiday, and in 1953 - 5 million schoolchildren (only in the RSFSR). In the United States, one day was not enough. For several decades there has been a special center for the rescue of waterfowl suffering from oil spills from damaged tankers. Volunteers catch birds smeared with oil and wash them 10-15 times in a bath with soapy water. Birds, washed of adhering oil, are returned to their usual habitat. In the spring of 1998, the children's magazine "Ant" proposed to revive the Day of Birds and to coincide with April 1.

April 22 - International earth day ... Tree day. The birth of the Earth Day tradition dates back to 1840 in the United States, when J. Sterling Morton moved with his family to Nebraska. In Nebraska, their gaze opened up endless prairies with lonely trees that were supposed to be used for firewood or building houses. There was nowhere to hide from the sun and wind, and the parched land yielded a meager harvest.

Morton and his wife went straight to planting trees and launched a landscaping campaign. Morton, later the editor of the first newspaper in Nebraska, championed the idea of ​​green space to stimulate life in this vast barren plain. Morton suggested that the citizens of Nebraska, then a newly formed state, set up a day to be dedicated to landscaping - a kind of Tree Day.

The idea met with universal support. During the first Tree Day, state residents planted nearly a million trees.

In 1882, Nebraska declared Tree Day an official holiday, celebrated on Morton's birthday - April 22.

Starting in 1970, the main activities for the celebration of the Day of the Tree began to be based mainly on the idea of ​​environmental protection and familiarization of the population with the ongoing depletion of natural resources. The holiday received a new name - Earth Day - and became nationwide. The organizers of Earth Day sought to initiate a massive environmental movement that could change consumption patterns and industrial production practices. Earth Day was proclaimed by the UN Secretary General in 1971. Since 1998, Earth Day has been officially recognized by the Russian Federation.

In Russia, Earth Day has been celebrated since 1990 hectares. Film festivals, exhibitions, concerts, press conferences, street processions, performances in schools, work with the media are organized, appeals and petitions are being prepared.

“Thinking globally - acting locally” is the capacious and deep slogan of the Earth Days. Of course, it is impossible to solve all the problems of interaction between nature and humanity, and it is not necessary to set such a task for oneself on the move. Another thing is more important - to bring concrete benefit with your own hands, no matter how small it may seem. Doing anything for the good of nature, know that you are not alone.

The Goldsman Environmental Foundation, San Francisco, is presenting the Earth Day award to "women and men with a lot of imagination and courage, and willing to take any risk to save the environment." Among its laureates is a citizen of Russia - Svyatoslav Zabelin, chairman of the Socio-Ecological Union (SES) - the most famous and authoritative public environmental organization in the territory of the former Soviet Union.

April 30 – Fire brigade day (See the article. The profession of courageous: April 30 - Day of fire protection // OBZH. - 2005. №16-20.)

May 3 - Sun day... On May 3, according to the decision of UNESCO, the Day of the Sun is celebrated.

To draw attention to the possibilities of using renewable energy sources, the European Chapter of the International Solar Energy Society (ISES-Europe) has been organizing an annual Sun Day on a voluntary basis since 1994. Enthusiasts and professionals, public organizations and companies throughout Europe organize various events related to the demonstration of the possibilities of solar energy. Early in the morning - the ceremony of welcoming the sunrise, and then, until the evening dawn, solar fairs, races of cars powered by solar energy, song festivals and at the same time serious scientific conferences are held, where the prospects for the use of solar energy are assessed. Sun Day is celebrated annually in 14 countries.

According to the press service of the Ilmensky State Reserve, the staff of the reserve, together with specialists from the Institute of Mineralogy, on the website of the Institute of Mineralogy "Malachite Box" have prepared a new virtual exhibition of photographs by Sergei Malkov "I came to this world to see the sun ... ".

June 5th - World environment day .

Established at the 27th session of the UN General Assembly on December 15, 1972, VDOS contributes to raising public awareness of environmental problems and contributes to raising the level of environmental knowledge of each person.

June 17 - World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought ... The huge Sahara Desert, as scientists believe, was once a blooming steppe. It turned into a desert thanks to the growth of the well-being of a human pastoralist. Huge herds of animals, which people began to breed, ate and mercilessly trampled down the steppe plants. And at the same time, no one cared that they had time to recover. As a result, the steppe ecosystem was completely destroyed. And where there was a flowering field, there is now a sandy sea. To avoid the emergence of new sugar, an ecological holiday was introduced to combat desertification.

8 july - Action day against fishing. Fisherman's day ... Celebrated on the second Sunday of July on the basis of the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated 01.11.88.

Starting from childhood, from Pushkin's wise fairy tale "About the Fisherman and the Fish", all our lives until old age, we all love fishing - in all its manifestations. Many of us are real fishermen, albeit amateurs. Many are familiar with the romance of early sunrises on the lake, and the quiet evening dawn, the best for biting.

For professional fishermen and workers of fishing enterprises, Fisherman's Day is main holiday a year.

In 2003, during the Second All-Russian Congress of Animal Rights Defenders, it was decided to hold a Day of Action against Fishing and to coincide with the Day of the Fisherman.

First day of action against fishing. On July 11, 2003, the first Day of Action against Fishing took place in the city of Novorossiysk. The city authorities, in order to avoid drawing attention to the cruelty of the fishing industry, refused to issue permission to hold the action in a crowded place, sending animal rights defenders to the seaside embankment, where there were practically no people. Nevertheless, with the support of local environmentalists and with the participation of representatives of the media, the action was successful and included not just picketing and distributing leaflets, but also an interesting performance. The performance was as follows: "the fish swam carelessly, but a fisherman tracked them down, and throwing his net, he caught defenseless fish in it, and those that did not fall into the net began to be caught with a hook. Red blood of the caught fish appeared, which splashed on the sides. On white gloves. red spots appeared. Having caught the fish, he loudly shouted rejoicing at the catch. "

16 of September - International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer .

Life on Earth is unthinkable without the ozone layer, which protects all life from the harmful ultraviolet radiation of the Sun. The disappearance of the ozonosphere would lead to unpredictable consequences of outbreaks of skin cancer, destruction of plankton in the ocean, mutations of flora and fauna.

September 20 - Forest workers day .

The 4th of October . - Animal protection day ... This is the second "oldest" holiday of the ecological calendar, which has been celebrated since 1926. In 1926, Europeans celebrated the 700th anniversary of the death of one of the greatest Christian saints, Francis of Assisi. Francis of Assisi was the first among the Christians of the Middle Ages who refused to condemn nature as a devilish obsession and dared to call animals his brothers: "my brother Wolf", "my brother Leo." Legends tell that Francis had an incredible ability to come into contact with wild animals, which not only did not harm him, but obeyed the saint and protected him. And he, in turn, urged people not to harm animals.

The legendary hermit who lived in medieval Italy is revered not only as the founder of the Franciscan order, but also as a patron and protector of animals. It is not for nothing that many of the Renaissance canvases depict Saint Francis surrounded by forest animals and birds. Subsequently, in many countries, members of societies for the protection of animals declared their readiness to celebrate this date annually by organizing a variety of public events. Their goal is to raise public awareness of the need to protect the environment and animals. In many Western countries, it is generally accepted that pets are members of the family, as "full-fledged" as people. The animals received medical attention, healthy food, their own holidays and even beauty contests. At the same time, a number of Russian animal rights activists believe that the issues of keeping both wild and domestic animals in our country are being resolved unsatisfactorily. In particular, there is still no federal law on the protection or maintenance of "our little brothers". There is also a legislative gap in this area in Moscow. These issues are regulated by only a few resolutions of the Moscow government, but they are practically not implemented, experts say. Thus, it is not difficult to guess that due to the lack of a legislative framework, the life of animals, as well as their owners, is not protected.

The decision to celebrate this day was made at the International Congress of Supporters of the Nature Movement, held in Florence in 1931. Then, animal welfare societies in many countries of the world declared their readiness to organize a variety of public events every year. In Russia, this date has been celebrated since 2000 at the initiative of the International Fund for the Protection of Animals. Animal Day was established with the aim of raising public awareness of the need to protect the environment, increasing activity in protecting animals. In many Western European countries, pets are considered to be part of the family and have the same rights as other family members. Russia firmly holds the second place in the world after the United States in the number of domestic animals. Every third Russian family has "smaller brothers".

October 14 - Day of workers of state nature reserves ... Celebrated since 1997 at the initiative of the Wildlife Conservation Center, the World Wildlife Fund in honor of the first Russian reserve - Barguzinsky, which opened in 1916.

December 1 - World AIDS Day ... Almost 20 years ago, the world learned about the existence of a new incurable disease - acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Over the years, unprecedented financial and intellectual efforts have been spent on the fight against this disease, but the world community is still suffering a crushing defeat. According to the latest UN data, 40 million people of the planet are sick or are carriers of the human immunodeficiency virus, and in the last year alone, 3 million people have died from this disease.

December 3 - International Pesticide Day ... International Pesticide Day is celebrated on December 3rd, commemorating a major accident at a pesticide plant in India. It was on this day in 1984 that an environmental disaster occurred at a pesticide plant in Bhopal, India. To raise awareness of the challenges posed by the production and use of hazardous chemicals, the Latin American Pesticide Activists Network has declared December 3 as Pesticide Pollution Day, which will soon become international.

In May 2001, the Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants was adopted in Stockholm, Sweden by 127 governments. The Stockholm Convention, which is international and legally enshrines the global elimination of pesticides, industrial chemicals and gases, the production and use of which causes great harm to all life on earth, will enter into force after ratification by 50 countries. To date, there are only two countries that have ratified the Convention - Canada and Fiji. And therefore, environmentalists from different countries are holding actions around the world on December 3 to remind governments that the Convention needs to be implemented as soon as possible.

December 29th - International Day for the Conservation of Biodiversity ... Celebrated since 1993. Its main goal is to once again draw the attention of the inhabitants of the planet to the need to preserve the biological diversity of life on Earth. A special symbolic cemetery was set up at the New York Zoo: 200 tombstones were installed there with the names of animals that have disappeared from the face of the earth over the past 400 years. Scientists predict that by 2050, another 20,000 plants will disappear. In 1966, data on extinct and endangered species of animals were published under the title "Red Book". Unfortunately, the list of endangered animal species is being replenished. But there is also reason for optimism: there are “green pages” in the Red Book. Species saved from extermination are entered there.

December 29th – international day for biological diversity ... In 1992, the UN Conference in Rio de Janeiro brought the diversity of living species, ecosystems and landscapes to the forefront of the attention of politicians and the public around the world. Biological diversity has been recognized as an essential part of the world heritage of mankind, the life source of its economic and social development... At the same time, today there is a great threat to the existence of species and entire ecosystems. Human-induced extinction of species continues at an alarming rate. In this regard, the countries participating in the Conference, including the Republic of Belarus, signed the Convention on Biological Diversity.

The date December 29 was chosen to commemorate the entry into force of the Convention on Biological Diversity. This day was established on the recommendation of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention held in Nassau in 1994. To date, 188 states from 194 countries of the world are Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, which have committed themselves to achieving the following goals: biodiversity conservation; sustainable use of biodiversity components; sharing, on a fair and equitable basis, the benefits arising from the use of genetic resources. The Republic of Belarus ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity in 1993. Since then, she has been actively participating in all international events and contributing to the development of the provisions of this international document. To achieve the objectives of the Convention, Belarus is improving environmental legislation related to biodiversity conservation. The country adopted and entered into force such legislative acts as the Law "On Specially Protected Natural Areas and Objects" (as amended on May 23, 2000), the Law of the Republic of Belarus "On Environmental Protection" (as amended on June 17, 2002 No. ), The Law of the Republic of Belarus "On the Plant World" (June 14, 2003), Forest and Land Codes. A number of other legislative acts are being prepared that are designed to provide a legal and economic basis for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, for example, bills on safety in genetic engineering, on the treatment of animals, a new version of the law on the protection and use of wildlife, provisions on the Red Book Of the Republic of Belarus, other regulatory legal acts. In Belarus, the National Strategy and Action Plan for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity, approved by the Government of the Republic of Belarus in 1997, is being implemented. In accordance with the Scheme for the rational placement of specially protected natural areas, approved in 1995, the system of these areas is being expanded and the National Ecological Network is being formed on its basis. Also, a network of specially protected natural areas of international importance for the conservation of biodiversity is being created - key ornithological, botanical, Ramsar (seven territories: Olmansky swamps, Middle Pripyat, Zvanets, Sporovsky, Osveisky, Kotra and "Yelnya"), transboundary natural areas, biosphere reserves. Habitats and habitats of rare and endangered species of wild animals and wild plants are preserved. In total, 2,291 habitats and habitats of 360 rare species of animals and plants listed in the Red Book of the Republic of Belarus are under protection in the republic. In 2003, 140 new similar places were identified in the republic and transferred to the protection of land users. Today in Belarus, with the financial support of the Global Environment Facility, a national biosafety system is being developed, a National Coordination Structure of the Clearing House Mechanism is being created to ensure the exchange of information in the field of international scientific and technical cooperation. A network of non-governmental government organizations is developing, which are actively involved in solving the global problem of preserving biological diversity. In 2004, work is underway to prepare the third edition of the Red Book of the Republic of Belarus, which is planned to be published this year. It will include 156 new species of animals and plants subject to protection, and 88 species will be excluded from the second edition. The new lists of animals and plants have been prepared taking into account the modern criteria for assessing species developed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN, 2001).

year 2012

There are many different environmental days that people around the world celebrate every year. The purpose of celebrating these days is to draw public attention to the environmental problems of the entire planet. The most familiar to you are Earth Day, March for Parks, Water Day, Environmental Day, Ozone Layer Protection, etc.

January

February

March

April

June

July

August

• August 6 - World Day of Action for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

September

October

November

The history of the emergence of eco-days

January

11 january- World Day for Nature Reserves. The date of this event was not chosen by chance - on this day, in 1916, the first state reserve, Barguzinsky, was formed in Russia.

In Russia, there are 100 nature reserves with a total area of ​​more than 33 million hectares (this is 1.58% of the total territory of the country) and 35 national parks with a total area of ​​about 7 million hectares (0.41% of the country's territory). Reserves preserve 80% of the species richness of flora and fauna.

February

February 2 - Groundhog Day (USA). Groundhog Day - traditional folk holiday in the USA and Canada, celebrated annually on February 2. It is believed that on this day you need to watch the marmot crawling out of its burrow. By his behavior, one can judge the proximity of the onset of spring. According to legend, if the day is cloudy, the marmot does not see its shadow and calmly leaves the hole, it means that winter will soon end and spring will be early. If the day is sunny, the marmot sees its shadow and hides back into the hole - there will be another six weeks of winter.

19 february - World Day for the Protection of Marine Mammals. (Whale Day) This day is considered the day of protection not only for whales, but also for all marine mammals. This day has been celebrated since 1986, when, after 200 years of ruthless extermination, the International Whaling Commission imposed a ban on whaling. It is still in effect and means that hunting for large whales, as well as the trade of whale meat, is prohibited all over the world. Each day, various conservation groups hold actions to protect whales and other marine mammals.

March

March 1 - World Cat Day. Since the time of ancient Egypt, the conquest of the world by the cat began. In 500g. BC. In Egypt, there was a cult of the cat. There are now more than 500 million domestic cats in the world, which are divided into 33 main breeds. These graceful and independent creatures do not leave people indifferent.

• Baturina L.N.Koshkin ball or holiday of Barsik and Murka // Pedagogical Council. - 2010.- №8.- P.8.
• Volovoda I.V. Cats are cats !: Educational and entertaining program for children // PedSovet + ShIK.- 2006.- №12.- P.11.
• Svechnikova I.V. Zoological travel [pets] // Books of notes and toys. - 2009.- №3.- P.42.

20th of March - Earth Day. The holiday was founded in 1970 by US Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsint and has been celebrated annually in many countries since then.

In the northern hemisphere, Earth Day is celebrated in spring and in the southern hemisphere in autumn. The main goal of this worldwide action is to draw the attention of society and every person on the planet to the problems of the Earth, to the problems of its environment.

Earth Day April 22, like Earth Day, held on the Spring Equinox Day, gives every inhabitant in all populated corners of the planet the opportunity to express gratitude to our large common home.

March 21 - International Day of the Forest. The Days of the Forest or, in other words, the Days of Arborization is a wonderful tradition that was founded in Russia at the end of the 19th century and has not lost its relevance in the 21st century.

We offer interesting scenarios:

• Earth-planet of people // Read. Learning. We play. - 2007.- No. 8.- P.105-109.
• Forest! You see? We are ours! [ecological leisure] // Books of notes and toys.- 2007.- No. 10 pp. 60-62.
• Multicolored planet [earth day] // Books of notes and toys. - 2008.- №2.- P.25-28.

22 march - World Water Day. (Water Day) This day was established on February 22, 1993 by the decision of the United Nations General Assembly (resolution 47/193 of February 22, 1993 No.

World Water Day aims to draw public attention to the state of water bodies and the problems associated with their restoration and protection; think about the role of water in the life of every person on Earth; to draw attention to the problems of lack of drinking water, the need to conserve and rational use of water resources, to take the necessary measures to solve the problem of supplying the population with drinking water.

April 1

April

April 1- International Bird Day. On April 1, 1906, the International Convention for the Protection of Birds was signed. On this day, schoolchildren and bird lovers hang feeders and birdhouses in gardens and parks. On this day, residents of different countries consider it their duty to update or rebuild birdhouses and thus prepare for the arrival of birds.

March for Parks - International holiday of specially protected natural areas: national parks, reserves, wildlife sanctuaries and natural monuments. The action "March for Parks" is timed to coincide with Earth Day (April 22) and is held annually in April in many countries of the world.

The history of celebrating Earth Day begins in the forties of the 19th century. At that time, the future founder of the movement, J. Sterling Morton, moved with his family to Nebraska. The territory was endless prairie with trees standing alone in some places. It seemed that the fate of these lonely trees was a foregone conclusion: they had to go to the construction of houses and firewood. Realizing that these few surviving trees were threatened with destruction, J.St. Morton immediately launched a campaign to promote tree planting, while he and his wife began planting. And in 1872, at a meeting of the Department of Agriculture of the state, J. Morton, already in the position of secretary of the territory of Nebraska, made a proposal to appoint a day in the year dedicated to the greening of the surrounding area. J. Morton's proposal was approved and received wide support from the residents of the state: on the first Day of the Tree, about a million trees were planted. In 1882, Tree Day was declared an official state holiday by the government of Nebraska on April 22nd. In the 20th century, the priorities in celebrating this holiday have changed somewhat. So, since 1970, the activity mainly consists in promoting the importance of the environment, preserving it in its original form, explaining to the population about the ongoing destruction of the surrounding nature, the depletion of the planet's natural resources. In this regard, the holiday was called Earth Day, and it was a new page in its history.

In the 90s, the holiday again changed its name - "March for Parks". The reason for this is the new meaning that he acquired. Since 1990, national parks have become the main theme of Earth Day celebrations in the United States. On this day, not only educational events (exhibitions, lectures, talks) are held, but also fundraising in support of protected natural areas.

What is "MARCH OF PARKS"?

"March of Parks" is an international holiday, the purpose of which is to draw public attention to environmental problems, the preservation of unique natural landscapes, complexes and objects.

For the first time, the "March of the Parks" was held in the United States of America in 1990 at the initiative of the National Parks and Conservation Association of the United States. Now in this country it has become a massive event, in which more than 1 million people take part annually.

In 1995 "March of Parks" took place for the first time on the territory of the former Soviet Union. 20 nature reserves and national parks organized this event in various regions Russian Federation, and the total number of participants was over 5,000 people. In 1996, the geography of the March of Parks expanded - local events were held in more than 120 places, and the number of people of all ages and various occupations - from schoolchildren, students and students to journalists, representatives of administrative authorities and entrepreneurs who took part in them, exceeded 70 -100 000. This year, Ukraine and Turkmenistan have joined the celebration of the "March of Parks".

Belarusian reserves and national parks, together with specially protected territories of Armenia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, first participated in the "March of Parks" in 1997. Among the events of the local Marches were environmental landings, special environmental actions, scientific and practical conferences, round tables with representatives of government agencies, school lessons and lectures, festivals, environmental education work was carried out, fundraising was carried out to support the main activities of protected areas. There was a wave of publications in the press, TV and radio appearances dedicated to the problems of nature reserve management.

The positive result of the "March of Parks 95–98" was the increased attention of the public, authorities, media and business to the problems of nature reserves and national parks and the real practical assistance provided to them.

The founder of Earth Day is believed to be Gaylord Nelson, a Senator from Wisconsin. Earth Day was an important event that made great changes in the political life of the country. About twenty million people took part in the Earth Day, calling on the authorities to solve environmental problems.

Earth Day 2000 was a 30-year anniversary celebration and an even bigger event that significantly raised the environmental education of ordinary people and paved the way for important transformations at the local, national and international level. More than 4500 organizations from 186 countries took part in the Earth Day 2000 campaign!

Earth Day is usually celebrated on April 22nd. But many also celebrate Earth Week or Earth Month. In fact, every day should be Earth Day! For more than 30 years, Earth Day has been celebrated in many countries. And if 20 million people took part in the celebration of the first Earth Day in 1970, then 20 years later their number has increased tenfold.

22nd of May- International Day for Biological Diversity. Asia is the most frequently affected continent. This was confirmed by the current year. In the Far East - destructive typhoons, in China - floods, in Tajikistan - mudflows. The disaster did not pass Uzbekistan either - mudflows fell on some regions of the country, and floods occurred along some rivers. But the outgoing year turned out to be sparing for us on the whole. The country's scientists have been tasked to develop a unified system for tracking hazardous natural and man-made processes, their forecasting and early warning.

June

June 5th- World Environment Day. In 1992, in Rio de Janeiro, the international community made tremendous progress in developing the concept of environmental protection. By resolution 2994 (XXVII) of 15 December 1972, the General Assembly declared 5 June as World Environment Day, which will be celebrated with a view to enhancing public awareness of the need to preserve and improve the environment. The choice of this date is based on the fact that on this day the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment (Stockholm, 1972) opened, followed by the establishment of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).

June 17- World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought. World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, which is celebrated on 17 June, was proclaimed by the General Assembly in 1994. In the same year, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification was adopted.

World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is still celebrated today. Desertification is a global ecological and socio-economic problem.

July

11 july- World Population Day. In 1989, the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) recommended that 11 July be celebrated as World Population Day. Counting from July 11, 1987, when the world's population exceeded 5 billion, this Day aims to highlight the urgency and importance of population issues. In 2001, the world's population was 6.1 billion and will continue to grow by more than 77 million a year for at least the next decade. The United Nations estimates that the world's population will be between 7.9 billion and 10.9 billion in 2050, with 9.3 billion people most likely.

September

16 of September- International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer. In 1994, the General Assembly proclaimed 16 September as the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer. The day commemorates the signing of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer in 1987.

States were encouraged to devote this day to promoting activities in line with the mission and objectives set out in the Montreal Protocol and its amendments. The ozone layer, this thin gas shield, protects the Earth from the harmful effects of a certain amount of solar radiation, thereby contributing to the preservation of life on the planet.

The problem of preserving the ozone layer, which protects all life on Earth from the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation, is one of the paramount problems for all countries of the world. The motto of the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer: "Save the sky: protect yourself - protect the ozone layer".

The protection of the stratospheric ozone layer was an important international initiative, the tasks of which were reflected in the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer. Today, 173 states have already acceded to the Vienna Convention.

September 29th- World Sea Day. Since 1978, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has celebrated World Maritime Day. The exact date is set for each IMO member state by the governments of these countries. In Russia it is September 29th. On this day, public attention is drawn to the problems of shipping and the protection of the marine environment.

World Maritime Day has been celebrated since 1978 by the decision of the X session of the Assembly of the Intergovernmental Maritime Organization (IMO), held in November 1977. Until 1980, it was celebrated on March 17. It is currently celebrated in the last week of September. This is one of the international days celebrated in the United Nations system.

The purpose of this holiday all over the world is to attract the attention of the public, public and private structures to the problem of preserving the seas and their biological resources. Traditionally, Sea Day is held in kindergartens, schools, libraries in the form of competitions, festivals, telling the younger generation about the wealth of the underwater world, about the benefits of the seas and oceans for humans, as well as about what every inhabitant of planet Earth can do to preserve them.

October

The 4th of October- World Animal Day. On this day, each person should think about "our least brothers" and what can be done to reduce the suffering of animals.

The first World Animal Day was held in 1983 to remind people of the suffering of millions of animals that die on farms and slaughterhouses. Date 4 October is Mahatma Gandhi's birthday. He was one of the first to defend animals and did a lot to ensure that agriculture was conducted in a humane way. On this day, each person should think about "our least brothers" and what can be done to reduce the suffering of animals.

World Animal Day for 70 years, according to tradition, is celebrated on October 4. The decision to celebrate the International Day of Animals in 1931 was made by the participants of the International Congress of Supporters of the Nature Movement, held in Florence.

The date October 4 was not chosen by chance - it is the "day of the angel" and at the same time the day of the death of St. Francis of Assisi / 1182-1226 /. The legendary hermit who lived in medieval Italy is revered not only as the founder of the Franciscan order, but also as a patron and protector of animals. It is not for nothing that many of the Renaissance canvases depict Saint Francis surrounded by forest animals and birds.

• Recently, 3 species of animals disappear from the face of the Earth every hour;
• 70 species of flora and fauna of the planet disappear every day;
• 1/4 of all species of flora and fauna of the planet will cease to exist in the near future;
• we use 70% of the world's fish stock, which exceeds the capacity of its natural recovery;
• 35% of all species of marine animals disappeared without a trace from the face of the Earth;
• every second more than 1.5 hectares of virgin forests disappear on Earth, and in total more than 65% of virgin forests, which are the habitat of many species of flora and fauna, have been destroyed;
• the planet annually disappears about 17 million hectares of forest;
• 34 thousand species of plants and animals are included in the CITES list - the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora;
• 36 thousand species of wild plants are annually destroyed in the world;
• over the past 25 years, the biological diversity of the Earth has decreased by 1/3.

October 9- International Day for the Prevention of Natural Disasters. On October 9, all continents of our planet celebrate the International Day for Protection from Natural Disasters.

Around the world, natural disasters claim 250,000 lives every year, and the amount of damage they cause is estimated at between $ 50 billion and $ 100 billion April 1 - International Day of the Birds

November

On November 5, 2001, the General Assembly announced 6 November International Day for the Prevention of the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict every year (resolution 56/4).

CALENDAR OF ENVIRONMENTAL

DATES AND HOLIDAYS

February 2 - World Wetlands Day
On this day, February 2, 1971, the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance was signed in Ramsar (Iran). World Wetlands Day is intended to draw the attention of the public and Governments around the world to the value of wetlands for maintaining the sustainable development of our planet and their importance for humanity. Particular attention is paid to the role of wetlands for water supply, maintaining water quality, regulating water regimes, including floods and droughts, and maintaining climate stability.
At present, 158 states have joined the Ramsar Convention, the total number of Ramsar sites in the world is 1713, with a total area of ​​153 million hectares.

February 19 - World Day for the Protection of Marine Mammals
World Marine Mammal Day (Whale Day) has been celebrated since 1986, when, after 200 years of merciless extermination, the International Whale Commission imposed a ban on whaling. The ban is still in effect and means that hunting for large whales, as well as trade in whale meat, is prohibited throughout the world.
This day is considered the day to protect not only whales, but all marine mammals and other living creatures of the seas and oceans. Every year on February 19, various conservation groups hold actions to protect whales and other marine mammals..

March 14 - International Day of Action in Defense rivers, water and life
International Day Against Dams is celebrated at the initiative of the International Rivers Network (USA). “For rivers, water and life” is the motto of this day.
In March 1997 in Brazil, in the city of Curitiba, the first international conference against the construction of large dams was held. This conference decided to celebrate every year, March 14, the day of the fight against dams in defense of Rivers, Water and Life. The conference called on all actions to be carried out under the slogan: "Let water bring life, not death!" and appealed to governments, international agencies and investors with a request to establish a moratorium on the construction of large dams until an international peer review of their construction projects is carried out, as well as compensation for damage to people and nature.

March 22 - World Water Day
World Water Day
For the first time the idea of ​​the appointment of such a holiday was announced at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in 1992, in Rio de Janeiro. The UN General Assembly in 1993 adopted official decision on holding World day water resources, reminding all inhabitants of the planet about the meaning and importance of water for the beginning and continuation of life on Earth.
Since 1993, the World Water Day has been officially celebrated all over the planet. On this day, the organization for the protection of the environment appeals to all states on the planet with an appeal to pay more attention to the protection of the planet's water resources and to take concrete actions at the national level.
Every year, on this day, new problems related to the pollution of water resources on the planet are discussed and a call for their solutions is heard.
In June 1999, at the III Conference in London, the ministers of ecology and health of 35 European countries signed the Protocol on Water and Health, pledging to protect their citizens from diseases associated with water pollution, protect water resources, and create systems for eliminating dangerous situations.

March 22 - World Meteorological Day
Every year, on 23 March, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), as well as its 188 member countries and the global meteorological community, celebrate World Meteorological Day. It was in 1951 that WMO was granted the status of a specialized agency of the United Nations system.

April 1 - International Bird Day
International Bird Day is held annually within the framework of the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Program and it is not by chance that it is celebrated in April. On April 1, 1906, the International Convention for the Protection of Birds was signed.
Bird Day is not only the anniversary of the Convention, but also the time of arrival of birds from wintering grounds. For the first time this day, as a mass children's party, began to be held in the United States of America. The organizer was a teacher from a Pennsylvania town.

April 7 - World Health Day
The idea of ​​a world health day was launched at the first World Health Assembly in 1948. Since 1950, this day has been celebrated on April 7, the day of the adoption of the WHO Constitution. WHO is the United Nations intergovernmental agency that coordinates international health cooperation and helps governments improve health care. The main goal of WHO is to achieve the possible top level health. And since the health of the inhabitants of the planet largely depends on the environment, this day is included in the list of environmental dates.

April 15 - Day of ecological knowledge
The most important task of this day is to draw attention to the importance of informing the public about the state of affairs in the field of environmental safety, compliance by local economic entities with the current environmental legislation.

April 18-22 - Days of nature reserves and national parks
For the first time, the Days of Reserves and National Parks were organized in 1996 at the initiative of the Wildlife Conservation Center. They got the name "March of Parks". Since that time, the "March of Parks" has been held annually throughout Russia, and beyond its borders, in the CIS and Baltic countries.

April 22 - International Earth Day
In 1969, a well near Santa Barbara spilled millions of tons of oil in the United States, killing many birds and marine animals. In memory of this disaster, every year, on April 22nd, Earth Day is celebrated, which has been declared worldwide since 1994. - International Earth Day symbolizes the unity of people in caring for the future of the planet and encourages respect for the world around us.

April 26 - Day of Remembrance of those killed in radiation accidents and disasters.
This day is celebrated in Belarus in connection with the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, which is considered one of the largest environmental disasters of our time.

May 3 - Day of the Sun
The European Chapter of the International Solar Energy Society (IOSE) e) has been organizing an annual Sun Day on a voluntary basis since 1994 in order to draw the attention of humankind to the possibilities of using renewable energy sources Enthusiasts and professionals, civil society organizations and companies throughout Europe organize various kinds of events related to the demonstration of the possibilities of solar energy.

May 12 - Day of Environmental Education
Humanity has reached a stage when anthropogenic impact on the biosphere has become irreversible, and the contradictions between the growing needs of society and the impoverishing possibilities of nature have sharply intensified. Environmental education was put forward by UNESCO and the United Nations Environment Program as the main means of harmonizing the interaction between man and nature.
The Stockholm Conference on the Environment in 1972 adopted a recommendation to establish an international program for environmental education. In order to survive, it is necessary to rethink the very essence of the relationship between man, society and nature on the basis of new approaches and ideas. According to the recognition of the domestic and world community, environmental education is becoming the central factor in solving the problems of the relationship "Man - Society - Nature".


May 15 - International Climate Day
This day is celebrated in connection with the proclamation by meteorologists of the need to protect the climate as a resource for the well-being of present and future generations. Climate, weather, natural disasters have a significant impact on food, life, property security, water resources, recreation and sustainable development of all countries.
In 1992, the international community, recognizing the danger associated with the constant growth of greenhouse gas emissions, decided to sign the UN Convention on Climate Change.
In December 1997, the Kyoto Protocol was signed, which marked a significant step forward in an attempt to tackle the problem of climate change. The signatories to the Protocol have agreed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to less than 5% of the base year in the target period from 2008 to 2012.


June 5 - World Environment Day
Ecologist day
On December 15, 1972, the General Assembly declared June 5 as World Environment Day. World Environment Day is considered one of the most important events on the ecological calendar and has been celebrated annually in more than 100 countries around the world since 1973. Celebrating Environment Day helps draw public attention to environmental issues and underlines the urgent need to change human attitudes towards natural resources.


June 8 - World Oceans Day
At the UN International Assembly, which was held in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro, was adopted new holiday, World Oceans Day. This holiday is celebrated by all people who have even the most distant relationship to the oceans.
On this day, employees of many zoos, aquariums, dolphinariums unite their efforts in order to fight for the rights of the inhabitants of the deep sea and a stable ecological situation. On this day, humanity gets another opportunity to take care of the flora and fauna of the ocean.

June 17 - World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought
The UN General Assembly proclaimed June 17 "World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought" in 1995. World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought calls on people from different countries to join forces to combat desertification and the effects of drought in countries suffering from severe droughts.
Desertification is one of the world's most disturbing environmental degradation processes. It threatens the health and livelihoods of over 1 billion people.

September 16 - International Day of Conservation ozone layer of the earth
In 1985 in Vienna, 22 countries signed a convention for the protection of the ozone layer. Two years later, on September 16, the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was signed. The main purpose of these two agreements is to prevent the depletion of the ozone layer due to anthropogenic influences. As a result of the signing of the protocol, it was possible to ban the production and consumption of 100 types of chemicals that deplete the ozone layer. Many of these substances contribute to global warming. Overall, the global consumption of such compounds has decreased by more than 95%. That is why the UN General Assembly proclaimed the day of signing the protocol - September 16 - the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer of the Planet.

September 17 - Day of forest workers
This day is celebrated professional holiday people who, by their noble labor, increase our forest resources and contribute to their rational use.
Forest is our greatest natural wealth, a guarantee of environmental safety, a priority component of the national economic complex and the basis of the country's economic stability. Preservation, augmentation, careful and rational use of this priceless national treasure is the duty of not only forestry areas and society, but also every person who loves his country and cares about the preservation of the nature of Belarus.

September 25 - International Day of the Sea
This day is celebrated on September 25 since 1978 by the decision of the 10th session of the Assembly of the Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organization (IMCO).

The goal of World Maritime Day is to draw the attention of the international community to the irreparable damage to the seas and oceans caused by overfishing, uncontrolled fishing, water pollution and global warming.

October 4 - World Animal Protection Day
The decision to celebrate World Animal Day was made on October 4, 1931 at the International Congress of Supporters of the Nature Movement, held in Florence.
Since that time, animal welfare societies and simply nature lovers in many countries of the world annually hold various events aimed at preserving the environment and protecting both wild and domestic animals.


October 6 - World Habitat Day
Habitat Day is celebrated all over the world. This holiday was approved in 1979 within the framework of the Convention for the Conservation of Wild Fauna and Flora and Natural Habitats in Europe. Man, through his activity, has long been influencing nature, changing it. Every year, more and more territories in the world are becoming agricultural lands, pastures, and are subject to changes due to the growth of cities, mining, construction of factories and other objects of the national economy. Over the 20 centuries AD, 150 species of mammals, mostly large ones, and 139 species of birds have disappeared on the globe. Each extinct species is a very heavy and irreparable loss. Everything that disappears in the animal kingdom disappears forever.


December 3 - International Day Against Pesticides
On December 3, 1984, a major accident occurred at a pesticide plant in Bhopal, India. As a result of the accident, substances hazardous to nature and humans were released into the surrounding atmosphere, which caused an ecological catastrophe. To raise awareness of the challenges posed by the production and use of hazardous chemicals, the Latin American Pesticide Activists Network has declared December 3 as Pesticide Pollution Day, which will soon become international.
The motto of the International Pesticide Day is “Pesticides - a dead end of civilization”. According to the WHO, about 2 million cases of pesticide poisoning are registered annually in the world, mainly as a result of working with them. Certain chemicals are considered hormonally active and cause disorders of the endocrine and immune systems. Others can cause mental retardation, reproductive problems, and cancer. It is pesticides that are considered the main reason for the "quiet catastrophe" - as UN experts described the state of soils in Europe.


December 29 - International Day for the Conservation of Biological Diversity
Every hour 3 types of biological life disappear from the face of the Earth ...
Humans are undoubtedly the most aggressive species ever to inhabit the planet.

JANUARY

The Day of Reserves and National Parks was first celebrated in 1997 at the initiative of the Wildlife Conservation Center, World Wildlife Fund, Ecocenter / Reserve /. January 11 was chosen as the Day of Reserves and National Parks to commemorate the anniversary of the formation of the first state reserve in Russia (in a new style), the Barguzinsky Reserve in 1916. Today in Russia there are 100 nature reserves and 35 national parks (their total area is about 3% of the country's area)

FEBRUARY

In 1975, the Convention on Wetlands, adopted on February 2, 1972, came into force, which the Soviet Union ratified two years later, in 1977. Its main task is to protect sea bays, lakes and wetlands from pollution by chemical waste. Wetlands are natural guardians of biodiversity. In our country, on the territory of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, more than 40 such lands have been taken under protection, which are of the greatest recreational, economic and cultural value.

On February 19, the planet celebrates the World Day for the Protection of Marine Mammals (Day of the Whales). It is considered a day to protect not only whales, but all marine mammals and other living creatures of the seas and oceans.

This day has been celebrated since 1986, when, after 200 years of merciless extermination, the International Whale Commission imposed a ban on whaling. It is still in effect and means that hunting for large whales, as well as the trade of whale meat, is prohibited all over the world.

MARCH

March 14 - International Day Against Dams or Day of Action in Defense of Rivers, Water and Life

Celebrated at the initiative of the International Rivers Network (USA). “For rivers, water and life” is the motto of this day.

It was proclaimed by the UN Secretary General in 1971, and in 1998 it is officially recognized by the Russian Federation. This day is timed to coincide with the day of the vernal equinox.

It was first announced in 1994 at the suggestion of the International Water Users Association.

Water is one of the most important components of life on Earth. Fresh water occupies a special place among the natural resources of the Earth: it is irreplaceable. Already today, fresh water supplies are being catastrophically depleted. According to UN experts, approximately one-sixth of the world's population does not have access to clean drinking water, and one-third to domestic water.

This is the date of entry into force in 1950. The conventions of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). In Russia, the official "start" of the hydrometeorological monitoring system was given 170 years ago by the decree of Emperor Nicholas I. Monitoring of environmental pollution is an important section of meteorological observations. Statistics accumulated for last decade shows that more than 80% of all natural disasters are of meteorological or hydrological origin.

APRIL

For the first time, the Day of Birds was held in 1924 under the guidance of teacher Mazurov in the Ermola school of the Smolensk region. It is believed that this Junnat spring holiday in the USSR it was established in 1926, and the next year it was arranged in all districts of Moscow, where 1098 artificial nests were hung. In 1928, 65 thousand children took part in the Day of Birds throughout the country, who hung 15 182 birdhouses, and almost a quarter of a century later - more than 5 million schoolchildren in the RSFSR alone. Since then, such an event has become widespread, and it was celebrated in first Sunday in April ..

In the spring of 1998, the children's magazine "Ant" proposed to revive the Day of Birds. This call was supported by the Federal Forestry Service and the Bird Conservation Union of Russia, and the holiday was timed to April 1.

For the first time, the Days of Reserves and National Parks were organized in 1996 at the initiative of the Center for Wildlife Conservation. This holiday, which is held annually as a propaganda action in support of protected natural areas, is called the "March of Parks".

The purpose of the Protection Days is to coordinate and unite the efforts of authorities at all levels, state environmental organizations, business entities and trade unions, scientists and the general public to implement the fundamental principles of our existence: "Ecology - Safety - Life".

The birth of the Earth Day tradition dates back to 1840 in the United States, when J. Sterling Morton moved with his family to Nebraska. In Nebraska, their gaze opened up endless prairies with lonely trees that were supposed to be used for firewood or building houses. There was nowhere to hide from the sun and wind, and the parched land yielded a meager harvest.

Morton and his wife went straight to planting trees and launched a landscaping campaign. Morton, later the editor of the first newspaper in Nebraska, suggested that the citizens of the then newly formed state of Nebraska set up a day to be dedicated to landscaping - a kind of Tree Day.

The idea met with universal support. During the first Tree Day, state residents planted nearly a million trees. In 1882, Nebraska declared Tree Day an official holiday celebrated on Morton's birthday, April 22. Starting in 1970, the main activities for the celebration of the Day of the Tree began to be based mainly on the idea of ​​environmental protection and familiarization of the population with the ongoing depletion of natural resources. The holiday received a new name - Earth Day - and became nationwide. Earth Day has been celebrated in Russia since 1990.

Stands in a special row memorable dates... Established by the Resolution of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Russian Federation on April 22, 1993 No. 4827-1. It is celebrated in connection with the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, which can be considered the largest disaster of our time, a nationwide disaster that affected the fate of millions of people living in vast territories.

MAY

The annual Sun Day has been organized since 1994 by the European Chapter of the International Solar Energy Society (ISES-Europe) to draw attention to the possibilities of using renewable energy sources.

Environmental education was put forward by UNESCO and the United Nations Environmental Program as the main means of harmonizing the interaction between man and nature.

In 1992, the Convention on Biological Diversity was signed in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), which obliges the signatory countries to ensure the conservation of flora and fauna.

International Day for Biological Diversity has been celebrated since 1993. Its main goal is to once again draw the attention of the inhabitants of the planet to the need to preserve the biological diversity of life on Earth.

A special symbolic cemetery was set up at the New York Zoo: 200 tombstones were installed there with the names of animals that have disappeared from the face of the earth over the past 400 years. Scientists predict that by 2050, another 20,000 plants will disappear.

In 1966, data on extinct and endangered species of animals were published under the title "Red Book". Unfortunately, the list of endangered animal species is growing. But there is also reason for optimism: there are “green pages” in the Red Book. Species saved from extermination are entered there.

JUNE

World Environment Day (WDD) was established at the XXVII session of the UN General Assembly on December 15, 1972. celebrated annually on June 5 in all UN member states, including Russia (since 1974). VDOS contributes to raising public awareness of environmental problems and contributes to increasing the level of environmental knowledge of each person.

This day was proclaimed in 1992 at the Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro. By proclaiming this holiday, the UN emphasized the vital importance of the oceans to the planet, as well as the need to take care of their condition.

World Day to Combat Desertification and Droughts was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1994 (Resolution 49/114). In the same year, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification was adopted. States were invited to devote this day to raising awareness of the need for international cooperation in combating desertification and the effects of droughts and on progress in the implementation of the Convention to Combat Desertification.

JULY

Second Saturday in July - Small Rivers Day

Traditionally, in the Lipetsk region, on the second Saturday of July, an ecological subbotnik, the Day of Small Rivers, is held. The purpose of this event is to put things in order in the catchments and water protection zones of rivers, reservoirs, ponds, springs, and to increase the level of the ecological culture of the population.

AUGUST

In August 1945, the United States carried out the atomic bombing of the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Explosions in these cities claimed the lives of more than 200,000 Japanese. Ten years later, on August 6, 1955, the first international conference for the prohibition of atomic and hydrogen weapons was held in Hiroshima.

This day entered the international calendar according to the proposal of the International Society for Animal Rights (ISAR) in the USA.

SEPTEMBER

1985 in Vienna, the Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer is signed. Its main goal was to organize cooperation in the field of research, observation and exchange of information, the adoption of legislative and administrative measures to control and prevent activities potentially threatening the ozone layer of the stratosphere, the protection of the environment and human health. On September 16, 1987, Canada adopted the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, and in 1990 the London Supplements to it.

The problem of preserving the ozone layer, which protects all life on Earth from the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation, is one of the paramount problems for all countries of the world. Scientists, ecologists, industrialists and our country are engaged in it. The motto of the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer: "Save the sky: protect yourself - protect the ozone layer".

Today, 173 states have already joined the Vienna Convention.

3rd Sunday in September - Day of Forest Workers

For the first time this day was celebrated in 1998 in France (according to most information sources), when car traffic was stopped in a number of cities. In the following years, this tradition was supported by other European countries and cities, and in last years- and some non-European countries (eg Canada, USA).

The purpose of such an event is to draw attention to the problems of atmospheric air pollution from vehicles, to reduce the level of concentration of exhaust gases in the city air, to reduce the noise load, and to promote the development of alternative modes of transportation.

Week in September - Worldwide Action "Cleanse the Planet of Garbage"

Ecological cognitive and scientific tourism has an educational and educational value, contributes to the international exchange of information on environmental issues.

Last Sunday in September - World Maritime Day

World Maritime Day has been celebrated since 1978 by the decision of the X session of the Assembly of the Intergovernmental Maritime Organization (IMO), held in November 1977. Until 1980, it was celebrated on March 17. It is currently celebrated in the last week of September. This is one of the international days celebrated in the United Nations system.

The purpose of this holiday all over the world is to attract the attention of the public, public and private structures to the problem of preserving the seas and their biological resources.

OCTOBER.

The International Organization for the Protection of Wild Birds (Birdlife International) holds annually at the end of September autumn days bird observation, the purpose of which is to draw public attention to the problems of the protection of birds and their habitats. The coordinator of this event, in which everyone can take part, in our country is the Russian Bird Conservation Union.

The historical reason for this significant holiday is a date rooted in the distant past - the Day of St. Francis, also known as the patron saint of all animals. He traveled around the world and helped all the suffering and persecuted, especially animals. The day of his death - October 4, 1226 - today is celebrated as the Day for the Protection of Animals for the whole world. The St. Francis Prize recognizes outstanding service in the conservation of nature. The decision to celebrate the World Day for the Protection of Animals was made in 1931 in Florence at the International Congress of Supporters of the Nature Movement. In our country, this day has been widely celebrated since 2000. However, it is known that Russia became one of the first European countries to pay attention to the problem of animal welfare. Already in 1865, the Russian Society for the Protection of Animals appeared in our country, which was supervised by the wives of the Russian emperors.

Habitat Day is celebrated on October 6th all over the world. This holiday was approved in 1979 within the framework of the Convention for the Conservation of Wild Fauna and Flora and Natural Habitats in Europe. Man, through his activity, has long been influencing nature, changing it. Every year, more and more territories in the world are becoming agricultural lands, pastures, and are subject to changes due to the growth of cities, mining, construction of factories and other objects of the national economy.

During the 19th century AD, 150 species of mammals, mostly large ones, and 139 species of birds disappeared on the globe. Each extinct species is a very heavy and irreparable loss. Man has learned a lot: he escaped into space, flew to the moon, but he will not be able to re-create a tour or a Steller's cow. Everything that disappears in the animal kingdom disappears forever.

Celebrated on the second Wednesday of October by the decision of the UN General Assembly. According to the website of memorable calendar days, the appearance of this date in the Russian calendar is associated with the accession of Russia in 1993 to activities within the framework of the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR). In 1987, the United Nations, recognizing earthquakes, cyclones, hurricanes, typhoons, tornadoes, tsunamis, floods, landslides, volcanic eruptions, torrential rains, thunderstorms and forest fires as the main threats to humanity, decided to hold an international decade to reduce damage from them. And the Russian Federation, represented by the Emergencies Ministry, began to take an active part in the project, especially the Agency for Monitoring and Forecasting Emergencies, created within the ministry.

NOVEMBER

November 6 - International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict

Over the past 30 years, humanity has spent a third of the resources available on Earth. Each year, resource consumption increases by one and a half percent.

Therefore, saving natural resources, searching for alternative resources, and recycling raw materials are of such great importance.

On this day in 1948, IUCN, the World Conservation Union, was founded, which is the largest international non-profit environmental organization. The Union unites in a unique global partnership 82 states (including the Russian Federation represented by the Ministry of Natural Resources), 111 government agencies, more than 800 non-governmental organizations and about 10,000 scientists and experts from 181 countries of the world.

DECEMBER

It was on this day in 1984 that an environmental disaster occurred at a pesticide plant in Bhopal, India. To raise awareness of the challenges posed by the production and use of hazardous chemicals, the Latin American Pesticide Activists Network has declared December 3 as Pesticide Pollution Day, which will soon become international.

Baikal is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

December 11 is the International Mountain Day, established by the decision of the 57th UN General Assembly in 2003.

The relevant resolution of the General Assembly noted the particular relevance of actions aimed at sustainable development of mountain regions.

Mountains cover about one-fourth of the planet's surface and are home to nearly 10 percent of the population. It is a reserve for many unique species of plants and animals, the source of water for all the main rivers of the earth.

In Russia, mountains and hills are located in 43 federal subjects and cover more than half of the country's territory.

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In order to attract public attention to the issues of preserving natural heritage sites and in connection with the 100th anniversary of the creation of the first state natural reserve in Russia in 2017, by the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin dated 01.08.2015 No. 392 2017 was announced in the Russian Federation « The Year of Specially Protected Natural Areas". In accordance with the Fundamentals of State Policy in the Field of Environmental Development of the Russian Federation for the Period up to 2030, approved by the President of the Russian Federation dated April 30, 2012, in order to draw public attention to the issues of environmental development of the Russian Federation, conservation of biological diversity and ensuring environmental safety, Presidential Decree Of the Russian Federation dated January 05, 2016 No. 7 2017 was additionally announced in Russia and Year of ecology.

We bring to your attention an annotated calendar of environmental dates for 2017. (Prepared based on materials from the Internet).

January April July October

February May August November

March June September December

Under the auspices of the UN

The General Assembly decided to proclaim 2017 International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development

2008-2017 year- Second United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty
2010-2020 year- United Nations Decade for Deserts and the Fight against Desertification
2011-2020 year- Decade of Action for Road Safety
2011-2020 year- Third International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism
2011-2020 year- United Nations Decade on Biodiversity
2013-2022 year- International Decade for the Rapprochement of Cultures
2014-2024 year- Decade of Sustainable Energy for All
2015-2024 year- International Decade for People of African Descent

JANUARY
11	World Day for Nature Reserves On January 11, 1916, the first reserve, Barguzinsky, was created on the territory of Russia. Since then, this day has been celebrated as the Day of Nature Reserves in our country.
FEBRUARY
1 to 9	Memorial days for people who died protecting animals Since 2009, events have been held in various countries in memory of people who died protecting animals. These days, people remember Jill Phipps, Mike Hill, Tom Vorby and other activists who have gone to different years... Many Russian animal activists support actions in memory of them, as well as recently lost loved ones.
2	World wetland day It was established in 1971 in connection with the signing in the city of Ramsar (Iran) of the "Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Mainly as a Habitat of Waterfowl."
2	Groundhog Day (USA) In the XVIII century. German settlers who settled in the small town of Punxsutawney in western Pennsylvania brought with them to America new tradition: On February 2, you need to watch the marmot crawling out of its burrow. By his behavior, one can judge the proximity of the onset of spring. In 1886 the holiday became official.
	World sick day It was established on May 13, 1992 on the initiative of the late Pope John Paul II. This is a kind of social step aimed at supporting people who have fallen into the sad category of patients.
	International Day for Spontaneous Acts of Kindness An unofficial holiday initiated by a number of international charitable organizations. The organizers of the Day of Spontaneous Acts of Kindness call on this day to be not just kind and responsive to someone else's misfortune, but kind, boundlessly and unselfishly.
19	World Marine Mammal Day (Whale Day) It was established in 1986 when, after 200 years of ruthless extermination of peaceful sea giants, the International Whale Commission imposed a ban on whaling. It is still in effect and means that hunting for large whales, as well as the trade of whale meat, is prohibited all over the world. In Russia, the Day of the Whale has been celebrated since 2002.
	Birthday of the Association of Reserves The birthday of the Association of Reserves and National Parks of North-West Russia, the largest public association of specially protected natural areas (SPNA) in Russia. Celebrated since 1995.
MARCH
1	World cat day This holiday appeared thanks to the Moscow Cat Museum, the museum was organized by the gallery of contemporary art "INTER" in March 1993. The idea to create such a museum came to mind of two artists Andrey Abramov and Ekaterina Efimova. A little later, on their own initiative, the Moscow Cat Museum, with the support of the UN, proclaimed World Cat Day, which has been celebrated on March 1 since 2004.
14	International Day against Dams International Day Against Dams is celebrated at the initiative of the International Rivers Network (USA) under the motto "For rivers, water and life."
	World Day Against Seal Hunting World Day Against Hunting for Harp Seals (Harp Seal Cubs) was initiated by the International Fund for the Protection of Animals (IFAW). On this day, the international community and numerous environmental organizations carry out various activities to protect the seal.
20	Earth Day Historically, Earth Day is celebrated in the world 2 times: March 20 and April 22. The first holiday has a peacemaking and humanistic orientation, the second - an environmental one.
	International Meat Free Day Many countries have been celebrating since 1985. On this day, shops and restaurants refuse to sell meat, and activists promote vegetarianism, as well as the ideas of compassion for animals and the protection of the environment.
21	International day of the forest The idea of ​​celebrating the International Day of Forests first appeared at the 23rd General Assembly of the European Confederation of Agriculture in 1971. A year later, the World Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) supported the idea of ​​an International Day of Forests as an occasion to inform the public about the importance of forest conservation. It was decided to celebrate this day every year around the world on March 21 - the day of the autumnal equinox in the Southern Hemisphere and the vernal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere.
22	International Day of the Baltic Sea On March 22, 2000, the International Day of the Baltic Sea was celebrated for the first time in St. Petersburg by the decision of the State Committee of the Russian Federation for Environmental Protection. The purpose of the Baltic Sea Day is to popularize the ideas of the Helsinki Convention, inform the public and specialists about the activities of HELCOM, and expand the understanding of the impact of the megalopolis on the Baltic water area.
22	World Water Day (Water Day) World Water Day has been celebrated since 1992. at the suggestion of the International Water Users Association and its President Alfred Rasted. This proposal was confirmed in the decision of the participants of the UN Conference on Environment and Development, held from June 3 to 14, 1992 in Rio de Janeiro. In 2003, the UN General Assembly declared 2005 - 2015. International Decade for Action “Water for Life”, and therefore the international importance of World Water Day has increased dramatically.
23	World meteorological day This day is dedicated to the formation of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) instead of the former International Meteorological Organization, created in 1873, and the entry into force of the WMO Convention on March 23, 1950. The holiday motto is “Weather, Climate and Water in the Information Age”.
	Earth Hour Global annual international action, organized by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), which is held annually on the last Saturday of March. It lies in the fact that on this day at the appointed time, people in different countries of the world turn off the lights and other electrical appliances for one hour.