World Wildlife Day 2023

About World Wildlife Day :

• It is a United Nations International day to celebrate all the world's wild animals and plants and the contribution that they make to our lives and the health of the planet.
• It is celebrated every year on March 3.
• 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. 
• The theme of World Wildlife Day 2023 is 'Partnerships for Wildlife Conservation'.

Key facts about CITES:

• CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is an international agreement between governments.
• Aim:  To ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of the species.
• It was drafted as a result of a resolution adopted in 1963 at a meeting of members of IUCN (The World Conservation Union). It entered into force in July 1975.
• Although CITES is legally binding on the Parties – in other words, they have to implement the Convention – it does not take the place of national laws.
• The CITES Secretariat is administered by UNEP and is located in Geneva, Switzerland. 
• The Conference of the Parties to CITES is the supreme decision-making body of the Convention and comprises all its parties.

 

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Q1) What is the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)?

Created in 1948, IUCN has evolved into the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network. It is composed of both government and civil society organizations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organizations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together.

Source: World Wildlife Day 2023: Wishes, Quotes, SMS, Greetings and Slogans to Share