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The Journal of the Royal Institute of Thailand Volume II - 2010 Biodiversity in Thailand 108 The United Nations declared 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity to coincide with the 2010 Biodiversity Target of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) adopted at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD or “Rio+10”), in Johannesburg, South Africa, in August 2002. The celebrations of the International Year of Biodiversity will raise public awareness of the importance of biodiversity in many countries throughout the world including Thailand. Thus, this year is a unique opportunity to emphasize the vital role of biological diversity in sustaining life on Earth and supporting ecological services as well as human well- being and reducing poverty. Biodiversity is the variety of life forms-microorganisms, flora and fauna including humans-at all levels of organization from genes to populations, species and ecological systems existing throughout the world. Such diversity of life is a legacy of evolutionary processes (Figure 1). This variety of life has long been and continues to be an essential resource for human survival in terms of food, medicines, housing and clothing as well as ecological services including aesthetics and ecotourism. Thus, the development of civilizations and cultural evolution has had synergistic relations with the natural biological world. Figure 1 Biodiversity and evolution