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GS-I	World Wildlife Day	Physical Geography

World Wildlife Day

GS-I Physical Geography Environment Geography

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

Establishment:
World Wildlife Day was established by the United Nations in 2013, following a proposal by Thailand to dedicate a day for wildlife conservation awareness.

UN Declaration:
On 20 December 2013, the UN General Assembly officially declared 3 March as World Wildlife Day, with the first celebration held in 2014.

Significance of the Date:
The date was chosen because, on 3 March 1973, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was signed.

About CITES

CITES is a global international agreement aimed at ensuring that international trade in wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival in the wild. It plays a key role in protecting endangered species from over-exploitation.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) –

Aspect	Details
Description	International agreement regulating trade in endangered wild species
Purpose	Regulate international trade in wild animals and plants to prevent endangerment
Established	1973 (Entered into force in 1975)
Headquarters	Geneva, Switzerland
Members	184 countries (Parties)
Species Covered	Over 38,000 species of animals and plants
Key Mechanism	Permit-based system for import and export of listed species

CITES Appendices (Levels of Protection)

Appendix	Type of Species	Trade Regulation
Appendix I	Species threatened with extinction	Trade strictly regulated; permitted only in exceptional circumstances
Appendix II	Species not currently endangered, but may become so	Trade allowed with permits ensuring no harm to wild populations
Appendix III	Species protected in a specific country	Requires export permits from the country of origin

World Wildlife Day 2025 Theme

The theme for World Wildlife Day 2025 is:

“Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet”

The theme highlights the importance of mobilising financial resources to support wildlife conservation, while ensuring benefits for both local communities and the global ecosystem.