Date: Wednesday, 3rd March 2021; 8th Anniversary.
Sponsor: United Nations
Facilitator: CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) Secretariat
Objective: To celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s wild animals and plants.
Inception: It was first officially held on 3 March 2014
On 20 December 2013, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) officially proclaimed 3 March of every year as UN World Wildlife Day, through a 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 3 March was the day of signature of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 1973. The proposal was made by Thailand.
How to celebrate the Day
Learn, share, and actions!
Since 2003, many organizations and communities host 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 a specific theme relevant to sustaining wildlife is proposed by the United Nations to raise awareness and promote innovative actions at all levels.
The theme in 2021:
The 2021 theme is “Forests and livelihoods: sustaining people and planet”.
Annual theme in recent years:
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
