In News:

World Wildlife Day is observed on March 3 every year, and in 2025, it will be observed under the theme of “Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet.”

Key Details:

• Declared by: United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)

• First Observed: 2014
• Occasion: Commemorates the signing of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) in 1973.
• Theme 2025:“Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet”

Purpose and Significance

World Wildlife Day is an annual UN-recognized global event aimed at:

• Raising awareness about wild fauna and flora.
• Highlighting threats such as climate change, poaching, habitat destruction, and illegal wildlife trade.
• Encouraging global cooperation for wildlife protection.
• Promoting innovative financing models to bridge the estimated $824 billion global biodiversity funding gap.

2025 Theme Focus: Conservation Finance

The 2025 theme calls for sustainable financial strategies, emphasizing:

• Wildlife Conservation Bonds
• Debt-for-Nature Swaps
• Green Bonds and Carbon Credits
• Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES)
• Public-Private Partnerships

These mechanisms aim to support conservation while fostering economic opportunities for local communities.

Timeline of Key Events

• 1973: CITES adopted.
• 2013: UNGA designates March 3 as World Wildlife Day.
• 2014: First official celebration.
• 2021: Theme – Forests and Livelihoods.
• 2025: Theme – Finance for Conservation.

Wildlife Status in India

• Protected Areas: 1,014 total (as of 2024), including:
  • 106 National Parks
  • 573 Wildlife Sanctuaries
  • 115 Conservation Reserves
  • 220 Community Reserves
    (Covers ~5.32% of India’s total area)
• Tiger Population (2022): 3,682 – ~75% of global wild tigers
• Asiatic Lion Population (2020): ~674 (only in Gujarat's Gir Forest)
• India's Biodiversity Share:
  • 7.6% of global mammal species
  • 14.7% of amphibians
  • 6% of birds and reptiles
  • 6% of flowering plants

Major Causes of Wildlife Decline

• Habitat loss & fragmentation
• Illegal wildlife trade and poaching
• Climate change and pollution
• Invasive species
• Industrialization & urban expansion

Conservation Measures in India

• Project Tiger (1973): Boosted tiger numbers significantly.
• Project Elephant (1992): Focuses on elephant corridors and human-wildlife conflict mitigation.
• Wildlife Protection Act (1972): Key legal framework to safeguard endangered species.
• Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs): Buffer areas around protected habitats.
• Community Initiatives: Ecotourism, local participation in conservation.