2010 is the United Nation's International Year of Biodiversity (IYB). This is the year for biodiversity to be raised in the public conscience and to strengthen national and international policies to protect biodiversity. The IYB is timely as there is generally a poor understanding throughout society of the meaning and relevance of biodiversity; a 2006 survey in Britain found that when people were asked what biodiversity was, the majority thought it was a washing powder (http://www.independent.ie/farming/ah-yes-thats-a-washing-powder-98121.html).

The focus of the IYB is a ‘celebration of life on earth and of the value of biodiversity for our lives. The world is invited to take action in 2010 to safeguard the variety of life on earth’ (http://www.unep.org/iyb/). It is not coincidental that later this year a major review of the Strategic Plan of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) will occur in Japan. This will be the most significant event on the IYB calendar. The eyes of the world will be on decision makers – as animal conservation researchers we have the opportunity to show how we can bring science to bear in the agreements that are ratified in this meeting.