What is World Wildlife Day? 

On 20 December 2013 at the 68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), March 3 was declared United Nations World Wildlife Day (WWD). This day holds significance as the day that the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was signed in 1973. The UNGA Resolution designated the CITES Secretariat as the facilitator for the global observance of this special day for wildlife on the UN calendar. UN World Wildlife Day has now become the global annual event dedicated to wildlife.

People everywhere rely on wildlife and biodiversity-based resources to meet our needs - from food, to fuel, medicines, housing, and clothing. For us to enjoy the benefits and the beauty that nature brings us and our planet, people have been working together to make sure ecosystems are able to thrive and plant and animal species are able to exist for future generations. So, let’s celebrate wildlife and the important conservation work being done around the world! 

“Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet” 

For World Wildlife Day 2025, join us in exploring how we can work together to finance wildlife conservation more effectively and sustainably and build a resilient future for both people and the planet.

Wild animals and plants, from the highland steppes to the coral reefs, are intrinsic to the intricate web of life on Earth. They sustain ecosystems, regulate natural processes, and support biodiversity, providing essential services that underpin human livelihoods and contribute to the achievement of our Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Forests alone house 60,000 tree species, 80 per cent of amphibian species, and 75 per cent of bird species, while supporting over 1.6 billion people with natural capital in the form of food, medicine, and income.

With over 1 million species estimated to be threatened with extinction, and facing the intensifying triple planetary crisis, innovative finance for wildlife conservation is more urgent than ever. More than half of the world’s GDP is dependent on nature, making biodiversity loss a significant threat to financial stability. For example, fisheries contribute over 10 per cent of GDP in some countries, yet over one-third of marine fish stocks are overfished, leading to unemployment, disrupted economies, and illegal harvesting practices.

Current financial flows are insufficient for governments to meet national biodiversity targets, particularly in biodiversity hotspots located in low-to-middle-income countries. Although USD 143 billion is invested annually in biodiversity conservation, this falls short of the estimated USD 824 billion needed each year. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for an SDG Stimulus of at least USD 500 billion to boost long-term financing for development, including nature.

The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework has revitalized efforts to halt and reverse biodiversity loss, targeting the mobilization of at least USD 200 billion annually for biodiversity and the elimination or reform of harmful subsidies by 2030. There is growing interest in innovative financial approaches, such as Debt-for-Nature swaps and Wildlife Conservation Bonds, which convert national debts into conservation funds and attract private investment for wildlife protection. Payments for ecosystem services (PES), like wildlife credits, generate revenue for landowners and communities managing wildlife resources.

World Wildlife Day 2025 will serve as a platform for exchange and exploration of innovative financial solutions for wildlife conservation. It will showcase financial innovations, the challenges faced by civil society, governments, organisations, and the private sector, and the collaborative approaches needed to ensure sustainable funding for biodiversity.

This year, the CITES Secretariat has partnered with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), WILDLABS, Jackson Wild (host of the World Wildlife Day Film Showcase), and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) (host of the World Wildlife Day International Youth Art Contest) to organize the high-level United Nations celebration event to take place on Monday, 3 March 2025 at the United Nations Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, and will be livestreamed on the World Wildlife Day YouTube channel.

World Wildlife Day is for connecting people with the natural world and inspiring continued learning and action for animals and plants beyond the day. 

Learn how to get involved

Learn more about the 2025 theme!