KATHMANDU, March 3: Today, March 3, marks World Wildlife Day. People across the globe are observing the day under the theme "Connecting People and Planet: Exploring Digital Innovation in Wildlife Conservation," underscoring the need to prevent excessive exploitation of the Earth, protect its biodiversity, and conserve environmental and ecological systems.
The United Nations General Assembly declared March 3 as World Wildlife Day on December 20, 2013, to raise awareness about endangered wildlife and plant species. On this day in 1973, world leaders adopted the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
From March 3 to March 14, 1973, Bangkok, Thailand, hosted the 16th UN Conference on Climate Change and the CITES Conference. During the event, Thailand proposed celebrating World Wildlife Day, and the General Assembly later approved the proposal.
According to the United Nations, the CITES Secretariat collaborates with UN agencies and other organizations to facilitate the implementation of global wildlife conservation projects. CITES includes 183 member countries.
With over one million species of wildlife and plants at risk of extinction, conservation efforts require a significant amount of funding.