This is a calendar of recurring national and international days of interest.
You can use this to theme and time your events, projects and awareness campaigns.
World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought
The World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is observed on 17 June each year to promote public awareness of international efforts to combat desertification. The day offers a chance to recognize that land degradation neutrality is achievable through problem-solving, strong community involvement and co-operation at all levels.
World Rainforest Day
World Rainforest Day is an opportunity to celebrate this precious natural resource each year and take action to preserve it. Our worldwide network of partner organizations is a catalyst for inspiring individuals and societies across the globe to take part in sustainable changes. Together we will create a positive impact on rainforests for years to come. https://www.worldrainforestday.org/
World Sand Dune Day
The preservation and strengthening of natural coastal defences, such as sand dune systems, plays an important role in increasing our coastal resilience to the impacts of climate change. Other countries, such as the Netherlands, are protecting and restoring their sand dune systems as a cheaper and better method – in some cases – than hard coastal protection works. #ProtectOurDunes initiative is asking the public to help protect the dunes by enjoying the beach responsibly and will include awareness raising measures on social media to convey the importance of our sand dunes to coastal [...]
World Population Day
World Population Day, which seeks to focus attention on the urgency and importance of population issues, was established by the then-Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme in 1989, an outgrowth of the interest generated by the Day of Five Billion, which was observed on 11 July 1987. https://www.un.org/en/observances/world-population-day
International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem
Every year on 26 July, we celebrate the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem. The day was designated by UNESCO in 2015 to raise awareness on the integral role of mangrove ecosystems as unique, special and vulnerable ecosystems, and to promote solutions for their conservation, sustainable management and utility. https://en.unesco.org/commemorations/mangroveday
World Tiger Day
During the last Year of the Tiger (2010), Global Tiger Day was launched by leaders of the 13 tiger range countries and NGOs working to protect these beautiful animals from extinction. Together, these advocates for wild tigers decided that by the next Year of the Tiger, the focus should be to double their global population, which at the time was estimated to be in the region of 3200. This is the time to celebrate the achievements so far.
International Orangutan Day
To recognize the most iconic victim of the palm oil industry, International Orangutan Day has been set for August 19th, EVERY YEAR! This event is to help encourage the public to take action in preserving this amazing species. http://www.worldorangutanevents.org/international-orangutan-day.php
International Vulture Awareness Day
The first Saturday in September each year is International Vulture Awareness Day. Vultures are an ecologically vital group of birds that face a range of threats in many areas that they occur. Populations of many species are under pressure and some species are facing extinction. The International Vulture Awareness Day has grown from Vulture Awareness Days run by the Birds of Prey Programme of the Endangered Wildlife Trust in South Africa and the Hawk Conservancy Trust in England, who decided to work together and expand the initiative into an international event. It is [...]
International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
September 16th marks International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer. Although there would be no life without sunlight, the energy emanating from the sun would be too much for life on Earth to thrive without the protection afforded by the ozone-layer. Scientists raised the alarm when they discovered in the 1970s that human actions had created a hole in this protective ozone shield. The hole was caused by ozone-depleting gases (ODGs), which were used in aerosols, refrigerators, and air-conditioning coolants. The thinning ozone layer caused increases in the risks of skin [...]
World Cleanup Day
A goal that crosses borders and defies religious and cultural differences. World Cleanup Day is one of the biggest civic movements of our time, uniting 180 countries across the world for a cleaner planet. https://www.worldcleanupday.org/
If you know of any other dates of interest please let us know and we will add them to the calendar. Email catherine@ien.ie.