In 2013, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) established the World Wildlife Day every 3rd of March. It is also on the same day that UNGA passed the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), a resolution that sought to stop illegal poaching and trafficking in endangered species of the world, both plant and animal species being included1. Since then World Wildlife Day has been once of the most important annual observances where themes are focused on the conservation and protection of many vulnerable and endangered plants and animals.

 

   This year the world wildlife theme is focusing on marine species for the first time with the theme: “Life Below Water: For People and Planet”. The theme closely aligned to the Sustainable Development Goal 14 will be an opportunity to highlight the critical issues and values of marine wildlife to our everyday lives. The occasion will also celebrate successful initiatives to conserve and sustainably manage these species, and to scale up support for future initiatives2.

 

   DENR being one of the agencies mandated to implement CITES annually celebrates World Wildlife Day to continue raise the awareness of wildlife conservation and strengthen enforcement operations against illegal activities in partnership with different sectors of society, hence, this activity.