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World Wildlife Day

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World Wildlife Day
Image
World Wildlife Day logo
Also calledWildlife Day / WWD
Observed byAll UN Member States
CelebrationsTo celebrate and raise awareness of the world's wild fauna and flora
Date3 March
Next time3 March 2027 (2027-03-03)
FrequencyAnnual

World Wildlife Day is an international day held annually on 3 March to raise awareness about wild animals and plants and their importance in the environment. It was declared by the United Nations General Assembly on 20 December 2013; the date commemorates the 1973 signing of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). [1][2][3]

UNGA Resolution

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In its resolution, proposed by Thailand,[4] the General Assembly reaffirmed the intrinsic value of wildlife and its various contributions, including ecological, genetic, social, economic, scientific, educational, cultural, recreational and aesthetic, to sustainable development and human well-being.[5]

The General Assembly took note of the outcome of the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES, held in Bangkok from 3 to 14 March 2013, in particular Resolution Conf. 16.1[6] designating 3 March as World Wildlife Day, in order to celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s wild fauna and flora, and recognized the important role of CITES in ensuring that international trade does not threaten the survival of species.[7]

The General Assembly requested the CITES Secretariat, in collaboration with relevant organizations of the United Nations system, to facilitate the implementation of World Wildlife Day.[8]

Themes

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2025: "Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet"[9]

2023: "Partnerships for Wildlife Conservation"[10]

2022: "Recovering key species for ecosystem restoration"[11]

2021: "Forests and Livelihoods: sustaining people and planet"[12]

2020: "Sustaining all life on earth"[13]

2019: "Life below water: for people and planet"[14]

2018: "Big cats - predators under threat"[15]

2017: "Listen to the young voices"[16]

2016: "The future of wildlife is in our hands", with a sub-theme "The future of elephants is in our hands"

2015: "It’s time to get serious about wildlife crime"

See also

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References

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  1. UN Resolution 68/205
  2. "CoP16 Doc. 24 (Rev. 1)" (PDF). CITES. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 November 2023.
  3. "World Wildlife Day EN". United Nations. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  4. "68/205. World Wildlife Day" (PDF). CITES. United Nations General Assembly. 20 December 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 November 2023.
  5. "World Wildlife Day 2021: Theme, Quotes | Spirituality Relieves Sufferings". S A NEWS. 3 March 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  6. "Resolution Conf. 16.1". CITES. Archived from the original on 4 August 2016.
  7. "Rio+20 recognizes the important role of CITES". CITES. 27 June 2012. Archived from the original on 5 July 2022.
  8. "World Wildlife Day | Background". United Nations. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  9. About World Wildlife Day 2025
  10. "Celebration of World Wildlife Day 2023 and CITES@50" (PDF). CITES. 20 December 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 November 2023.
  11. "Recovering key species for ecosystem restoration announced as theme of World Wildlife Day 2022". CITES. 15 November 2021. Archived from the original on 15 January 2024.
  12. ""Forests and livelihoods: sustaining people and planet" announced as theme of World Wildlife Day 2021". CITES. 23 November 2020. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023.
  13. ""Sustaining all life on Earth" announced as theme of World Wildlife Day 2020". CITES. 19 November 2019. Archived from the original on 12 November 2023.
  14. "Focusing on marine species for the first time, the next World Wildlife Day is bound to make a splash". CITES. 19 November 2018. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023.
  15. "100 days until UN World Wildlife Day 2018". CITES. 24 November 2017. Archived from the original on 29 January 2024.
  16. "Engaging and empowering the youth is the call of next year's UN World Wildlife Day". CITES. 19 December 2016. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023.
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