The United Nations(UN)’s World Wildlife Day (WWD) is annually observed across the globe on 3rd March to celebrate and create awareness about the importance of wild fauna and flora.
The Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), in collaboration with other relevant UN organizations, facilitates the implementation of World Wildlife Day.
The theme of World Wildlife Day 2022 is “Recovering key species for ecosystem restoration”.
- The 2022 theme highlights the conservation status of some of the most critically endangered species of wild animals and plants and drives discussions towards solutions to conserve them.
- This is in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals 1, 2, 12, 13, 14 and 15.
Background:
i.In 2013, Resolution Conf. 16.1 adopted during the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP 16), held in Bangkok, Thailand, declared the 3rd March of every year, the date of adoption of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 1973, as World Wildlife Day.
ii.The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) (During the 68th session) adopted the resolution A/C.2/68/L.48 on 20th December 2013 and proclaimed the 3rd March of every year as World Wildlife Day.
iii.The first World Wildlife Day was observed on 3rd March 2014.
CITES:
i.The CITES resolution was sponsored by the Kingdom of Thailand.
CITES plays a major role in ensuring that international trade does not threaten the survival of the species.
- CITES is one of the world’s most powerful tools for biodiversity conservation through the regulation of trade in wild fauna and flora.
- Members- 184 states
Significance:
i.The 2022 World Wildlife Day focuses on the need to reverse the fate of the most critically endangered species, to support the restoration of their habitats and ecosystems and to promote their sustainable use by humanity.
ii.World Wildlife Day 2022 also highlights the importance of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030).
- More than 8,400 species of wild fauna and flora are critically endangered and around 30,000 more are understood to be endangered or vulnerable. This estimation suggests that more than a million species are threatened with extinction.
About United Nations(UN):
Secretary-General– António Guterres
Members– 193 Member States
Headquarters– New York, United States of America
Founded in 1945
About United Nations General Assembly (UNGA):
UNGA is the main policy-making organ of the United Nations.
President (76th session)– Abdulla Shahid(Maldives)
