United Nations World Wildlife Day (WWD) is celebrated every year on 3rd March to celebrate wild animals and plants
World Wildlife Day
The WWD 2025 Theme is Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet.
· Focuses on securing financial resources for long-term conservation efforts.
Highlights collaboration among governments, private sectors, and global organizations.
Established by UNGA in December 2013, initiated by Thailand.
World Wildlife Day is celebrated in honour of adopting the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) on March 3, 1973.
Aims to raise global awareness of wildlife conservation.
Stresses biodiversity protection amidst climate change and human activities.
Importance of World Wildlife Day
Promotes conservation policies and stronger environmental laws.
Highlights biodiversity loss due to habitat destruction and illegal trade.
Encourages community-driven conservation and corporate responsibility.
CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora)
CITES is an international treaty aimed at ensuring that global trade in wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.
Adopted on March 3, 1973, and came into force on July 1, 1975.
Signed by 184 countries (Parties).
Objectives
Regulate international trade in wildlife species and their products.
Prevent over-exploitation of endangered species.
Promote sustainable trade practices.
Structure & Implementation
CITES Secretariat: Administered by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Conference of the Parties (CoP): Meets every two to three years to review progress and update species listings.
Three Appendices for Species Protection:
Appendix I: Species at risk of extinction – trade is prohibited, except under exceptional circumstances (e.g., tigers, elephants, rhinos).
Appendix II: Species that may become endangered if trade is not regulated – trade allowed with strict regulations (e.g., certain orchids, sharks).
Appendix III: Species protected in specific countries requesting CITES cooperation.
Significance
Prevents illegal wildlife trade, a major cause of biodiversity loss.
Supports global conservation efforts by enforcing strict trade regulations.
Helps maintain ecological balance by controlling the exploitation of species.
India and CITES
India is a signatory to CITES since 1976.
Several species like tigers, elephants, and pangolins are listed under Appendix I.
Implemented via Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 to regulate trade.
