World Wildlife Day

News: The World Wildlife Day is celebrated every year on 3rd March.

Facts:

• Background: In 2013, the UNGA decided to proclaim 3 March, the day of the adoption of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 1973.
• 2020 Theme: “Sustaining all life on Earth”.

Additional Information:

CITES:

• Also known as Washington Convention, CITES is an international agreement which aims to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. It entered into force in 1975. At present it has 183 parties.
• CITES Appendices:

1. Appendix I includes species threatened with extinction. Trade in specimens of these species is permitted only in exceptional circumstances.
2. Appendix II includes species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but in which trade must be controlled in order to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival.
3. Appendix III contains species that are protected in at least one country, which has asked other CITES Parties for assistance in controlling the trade.