World Wildlife Day 2023: Every March 3rd, the UN World Wildlife Day is observed all over the world. This date was chosen because it is the anniversary of the signing of CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, in 1973. This global event is marked annually to celebrate and promote awareness of the planet’s wild fauna and flora. In 1973, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was also signed. The goal of CITES is to keep international trade from threatening species’ survival.
February 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
50th Anniversary of CITES
This World Wildlife Day 2023 coincides with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of CITES. Since its inception, CITES has stood at the junction of trade and conservation. It has sought to build partnerships and reconcile differences between the groups that are guided and governed by its regulations.
World Wildlife Day 2023: Theme
World Wildlife Day will be celebrated in 2023 under the theme “Partnerships for wildlife conservation”, honoring the people who are making a difference.
World Wildlife Day 2023: Significance
The day is set aside to honour and raise awareness about the world’s diverse wild fauna and flora. This day serves as a reminder of the value of wildlife and their habitats. It is also a day of global significance to promote the need for their protection and conservation. The United Nations carefully selects a theme each year to draw attention to specific challenges confronting wildlife populations and ecosystems.
The day holds significance as it coincides with the adoption of CITES, an international agreement that aims to prevent the trade of endangered species from threatening their survival. World Wildlife Day is a reminder that the conservation of biodiversity is crucial for the survival of all species, including humans.
World Wildlife Day: History
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was established in 1973. Its goal was to ensure that international trade did not endanger wild fauna and flora species’ survival. On March 16, 2013, the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES (CoP16) was held in Bangkok. It was during this meeting that the Kingdom of Thailand sponsored a resolution. This resolution designates March 3 as World Wildlife Day. The United Nations General Assembly’s Sixty-eighth session officially declared March 3 as World Wildlife Day on December 20, 2013. It was to be marked to celebrate and raise awareness of the planet’s wild fauna and flora. This date coincides with the day CITES was adopted in 1973.
The CITES Secretariat, along with other relevant United Nations organisations, is in charge of facilitating World Wildlife Day implementation. CITES, with 183 member states, remains one of the world’s most powerful tools for biodiversity conservation by regulating the trade in wild fauna and flora.
