Environmentalists internationally are celebrating World Wildlife Day 2016, with activities focused around the theme ‘The future of wildlife is in our hands’.
Countries around the world are hosting events on the 3 March to highlight the plight of animals and plants in their regions. The main focus this year will be African and Asian elephants, of which an estimated 100,000 were slaughtered between 2010 and 2012 for their ivory.
AGREEMENT TO PREVENT ILLEGAL TRADE
Established at the 68th session of the UN General Assembly in 2013, the date was selected to coincide with the anniversary of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). CITES is an international agreement between 181 governments that works to ensure international trade of wild plants and animals does not threaten their survival.
PROTECTING WILDLIFE THE WORLD OVER
“On this World Wildlife Day, I call on all citizens, businesses and governments to play their part in protecting the world’s wild animals and plants. The actions taken by each of us will determine the fate of the world’s wildlife,” announced UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon ahead of the 2016 event.
Panel discussions and speeches are being held at the UN Headquarters in New York, where there will also be an announcement of the winners of the International Elephant Film Festival. The Festival will aim to raise awareness of the issues facing these elephants and has received over 250 entries in categories that include ‘Elephant hero’ and ‘People and elephants’.
Find a World Wildlife Day event near you, such as screenings of films from the Film Festival, a local clean-up of Coyote Creek in Palo Alto, California, or an exhibition at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in Japan to highlight the rules on endangered species trade.
RESEARCH PREVENTING POACHING
Last year, International Innovation reported on a new device that aims to discourage poachers of endangered species, such as rhinos and elephants. Read the full story here.
For more research in this area, read our latest environment issue here, which includes exclusive interviews with National Geographic and World Wildlife Fund International.
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