World Wildlife Day 2023

March 3, 2023

World Wildlife Day is celebrated every year on March 3 to raise awareness about the importance of protecting the world’s flora and fauna.

About World Wildlife Day :

It is a United Nations International day to celebrate all the world's wild animals and plants and the contribution that they make to our lives and the health of the planet.
It is celebrated every year on March 3.
This date was chosen as it is the birthday of CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, signed in 1973.
The theme of World Wildlife Day 2023 is 'Partnerships for Wildlife Conservation'.

Key facts about CITES:

CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is an international agreement between governments.
Aim: To ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of the species.
It was drafted as a result of a resolution adopted in 1963 at a meeting of members of IUCN (The World Conservation Union). It entered into force in July 1975.
Although CITES is legally binding on the Parties– in other words, they have to implement the Convention – it does not take the place of national laws.
The CITES Secretariat is administered by UNEPand is located in Geneva, Switzerland.
The Conference of the Parties to CITES is the supreme decision-making body of the Convention and comprises all its parties.