World Wildlife Day, 2022

In news– World Wildlife Day is observed on March 3rd every year to raise awareness about the conservation of wildlife.

About the day-

On December 20, 2013 at its 68th session, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) proclaimed March 3 as UN World Wildlife Day to celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s wild animals and plants.
It is also the day of the signature of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 1973.
Further, the UNGA resolution designated the CITES Secretariat as the facilitator for the global observance of this special day for wildlife on the UN calendar.
The CITES resolution was sponsored by the Kingdom of Thailand, the Host of CITES CoP16, which transmitted the outcomes of CITES CoP16 to the UN General Assembly.
The theme for 2022 is ‘Recovering key species for ecosystem restoration’.
CITES, in collaboration with other relevant UN organizations, facilitates the implementation of this Day.

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora(CITES)-

CITES is an international agreement to which States and regional economic integration organizations adhere voluntarily.
States that have agreed to be bound by the Convention (‘joined’ CITES) are known as Parties.
Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.

CITES was drafted as a result of a resolution adopted in 1963 at a meeting of members of IUCN (The World Conservation Union).
The text of the Convention was finally agreed at a meeting of representatives of 80 countries in Washington, D.C., United States of America, on 3 March 1973, and on 1 July 1975 CITES entered into force.
Although CITES is legally binding on the Parties, it does not take the place of national laws.
With 183 Member States, CITES remains one of the world’s most powerful tools for biodiversity conservation through the regulation of trade in wild fauna and flora.