World Wildlife Day 2023 celebrates on 3rd March

World Wildlife Day 2023

Every 3rd of March, wildlife is celebrated all over the world for the UN World Wildlife Day. 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. This global event is marked annually to celebrate and promote awareness of the planet’s wild fauna and flora. The date also marks the adoption of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 1973. CITES aims to prevent international trade from threatening species’ survival.

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50th Anniversary of CITES

This World Wildlife Day 2023 falls on the 50th Anniversary of CITES coming into being. 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.

Important days in March 2023: India and International List

World Wildlife Day 2023: Significance

The day is marked to celebrate and raises awareness of the world’s diverse wild fauna and flora. This day is an opportunity to highlight the importance of wildlife and their habitats. It is also a day of global significance to promote the need for their protection and conservation. Each year, the United Nations carefully select a theme to draw attention to specific challenges faced by 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

In 1973, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was adopted. Its aim was to ensure that international trade does not threaten the survival of wild fauna and flora species.
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.
On December 20, 2013, the Sixty-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly officially proclaimed March 3 as World Wildlife Day. 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 Secretariat of CITES, along with other relevant United Nations organizations, is responsible for facilitating the implementation of World Wildlife Day.
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.

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