At present more than 7 thousands species of animals and almost 60 thousands species of plants are under the threat of disappearance. The UNO General Assembly declared 2010 the International Year of Biological Diversity by its resolution. Thus UNO wants to attract attention of the world community to the necessity of protection and efficient use of the nature, joining efforts for preservation of eco-systems and protection of most valuable natural objects. Now the children of Uzbekistan can contribute to the common cause on the conservation of natural diversity.

Today 2 February 2010 the Children Ecological Forum ‘Children’s Look at Biodiversity – 2010’ has started. The organizing committee of the ‘Children Ecological Forum ‘Children’s Look at Biodiversity – 2010’ has decided to emphasize the importance of the biodiversity conservation by means of holding of information campaign and the competition of creative works. The children from 7 to 14 of ail provinces of Uzbekistan can express their opinion on importance of the diversity of life on the Earth, on the ways of saving endangered species of plants and animals by way of their creative works. The State Committee for Nature Protection of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Republican Inspection for Protection and Rational Use of Fauna and Flora (‘Gosbiocontrol’), the Ecological Publishing Company ‘Chinor’, the Ecological-resource Centre ‘Ecomaktab ’are the organizers and founders of this event. The Children Ecological Forum ‘Children’s Look at Biodiversity – 2010’ will have two stages: on the National level (provinces of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Republic of Karakalpakstan) and on the International level. The Forum is unified system of events that will be held in February- May 2010 with following task and objectives: the development of cooperation of children groups in the field of ecology based on the exchange of the experience of carrying out various creative and nature protection activity; fostering in teenagers sensitive attitude towards the common human values such as careful attitude to the environment, cultural and natural heritage; forming in young inhabitants of our country the ecological culture and active living position on the problems of biodiversity conservation. The best works by the categories of research and projective works and also literary competition will be published in the children bulletin ‘Yosh Ekolog’ and the winners will receive pass for participation in the children ecological expedition ‘Tracings Djeyran (Persian gazelle)-2010’. The authors of the best art works will be nominated for participation in the 19th International Competition of Children’s Drawings on the ‘Biological Diversity: Interrelation with Nature’ devoted to the environment protection. This competition is organized by the ‘Byer’ Company and UNEP jointly with other partners of the project, including the Fund for Fighting for Peace and Environment Preservation based in Japan and ‘Nikon’ Corporation. The preparation of posters, booklets and brochures and also holding the press-conference dedicated to the World Day of Biodiversity (22 May) are planned within the framework of the information campaign of the Children Ecological Forum ‘ Children’s Look at Biodiversity 2010’.

N. Shivaldova