In November 2009, the United Nations declared 2010 to be the International Year of Biodiversity. It has been a celebration of life on earth and of the value of biodiversity for our lives. The world has been invited to take action in 2010 to safeguard biodiversity, i. e., the variety of life on earth. Throughout the year countless initiatives were organized to disseminate information, promote the protection of biodiversity and encourage organizations, institutions, companies and individuals to take direct action to reduce the constant loss of biological diversity worldwide.