On 20 December 2013, at its 68th session, the United Nations
General Assembly (UNGA) decided to proclaim March 3, the day of the adoption of
the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and
Flora (CITES), as World Wildlife Day, to celebrate and raise awareness of the
world’s wild fauna and flora.
UNGA Resolution
In its resolution, the General Assembly reaffirmed the
intrinsic value of wildlife and its various contributions, including
ecological, genetic, social, economic, scientific, educational, cultural,
recreational and aesthetic, to sustainable development and human well-being.
The General Assembly took note of the outcome of the 16th
meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES, held in Bangkok from 3 to 14
March 2013, in particular Resolution Conf. 16.1 designating 3 March as World
Wildlife Day, in order to celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s wild
fauna and flora, and recognized the important role of CITES in ensuring that
international trade does not threaten the survival of species.
The General Assembly requested the CITES Secretariat, in
collaboration with relevant organizations of the United Nations system, to
facilitate the implementation of World Wildlife Day.
