March 3 is celebrated as World Wildlife Day across the globe.
Context
March 3 is celebrated as World Wildlife Day across the globe.
About the Wildlife Day
- The United Nations General Assembly had proclaimed March 3 as UN World Wildlife Day in 2013 to celebrate and raise awareness about animals and plants.
- The day is celebrated in commemorating the day of the signing of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 1973.
Wildlife Day 2021
- Theme: 'Forests and Livelihoods: Sustaining People and Planet'.
- The theme highlight the role of forests, forest species, and ecosystem services in sustaining the livelihood of millions of people at a global level and especially of the indigenous and local communities that have been associated with the forest for the longest of times.
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
- CITES is an international agreement between governments.
- It aims to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.
- It came into existence in 1973 and on 1 July 1975 CITES entered in force.
- For many years CITES has been among the conservation agreements with the largest membership, with now 183 Parties.
Appendices:
- The species covered by CITES are listed in three Appendices, according to the degree of protection they need.
- Appendix I: It includes species threatened with extinction. Trade-in specimens of these species are permitted only in exceptional circumstances.
- Appendix II: It includes species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but in which trade must be controlled to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival.
- Appendix III: This Appendix contains species that are protected in at least one country, which has asked other CITES Parties for assistance in controlling the trade.
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