Date: Sunday, 3rd March 2024; 10th Anniversary.
Founder: United Nations
Facilitator:
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Secretariat
Objectives:
World Wildlife Day is annually observed for the following purposes:
- To celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s wild fauna and flora.
- To recognize the intrinsic value of wildlife and its contributions to sustainable development and human well-being in ecological, genetic, social, economic, scientific, educational, cultural, recreational, and aesthetic contexts.
- To emphasize the need to combat environmental crimes, including trafficking in endangered and protected wild fauna and flora species.
Inception:
The World Wildlife Day was first officially held worldwide on March 3, 2014.
History:
On 20 December 2013, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) officially proclaimed 3 March of every year as UN World Wildlife Day through Resolution A/RES/68/205 to celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s wild fauna and flora. In the resolution, the CITES Secretariat was designated as the facilitator for the global observance of this special Day for wildlife.
The date was chosen because March 3 was the signing day of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 1973. Thailand made the proposal.
How To Observe the Day
Learn, share, and action!
Since 2003, many organizations and communities have hosted a range of events every year, including seminars, lectures, conferences, educational programs, and social media campaigns, to raise and spread awareness of wildlife-related issues. Each year, the United Nations proposes a specific theme for the Day to increase awareness and promote innovative actions at all levels.
Annual Theme In Recent Years:
2024 theme: “Connecting People and Planet: Exploring Digital Innovation in Wildlife Conservation.”
2023 theme: “Partnerships for Wildlife Conservation.”
2022 theme: “Recovering Key Species for Ecosystem Restoration.”
2021 theme: “Forests and Livelihoods: Sustaining People and Planet.”
2020 theme: “Sustaining All Life on Earth.”
2019 theme: “Life Below Water: For People and Planet.”
2018 theme: “Big Cats – Predators Under Threat.”
2017 theme: “Listen to The Young Voices.”
2016 theme: “The Future of Wildlife Is in Our Hands.”
2015 theme: “It’s Time to Get Serious About Wildlife Crime.”
Official Websites:
https://www.un.org/en/observances/world-wildlife-day
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