World Wildlife Day 2022: History, Significance, and Theme

Wild animals and plants have inherent worth and contribute to the environmental, genetic, sociological, economic, scientific, educational, cultural, recreational, and aesthetic elements of human well-being as well as to sustainable development.

Why do we celebrate World Wildlife Day?

World Wildlife Day is an opportunity to recognize the many beautiful and diverse species of wild fauna and flora, as well as to promote awareness of the numerous advantages that their conservation brings to humans. At the same time, the Day serves as a reminder of the critical need to ramp up efforts to combat wildlife crime and human-induced species extinction, both of which have far-reaching economic, environmental, and societal implications.

World Wildlife Day 2022: History and Significance

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared 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 during its 68th session on December 20, 2013.

Since then, World Wildlife Day has become to be an immensely significant day dedicated to mitigating the negative effects of human activities on wildlife.

World Wildlife Day 2022: Theme

In 2022, World Wildlife Day (WWD) will be celebrated under the theme "Recovering key species for ecosystem restoration." The celebrations will aim to attract attention to the conservation condition of some of the most severely endangered species of wild animals and flora, as well as to stimulate debates about imagining and adopting conservation solutions. All discussions will be inspired by and strive to inform efforts to attain the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The continued loss of species, habitats, and ecosystems endangers all life on Earth, including us. People all across the world rely on wildlife and biodiversity-based resources to support their basic needs, including food, fuel, medications, housing, and clothes. Millions of people rely on nature for their livelihoods and economic prospects as well.

In 2022, World Wildlife Day will thus focus the debate on the crucial need to reverse the future of the most critically endangered species, to assist the rehabilitation of their habitats and ecosystems, and to encourage the sustainable use of these animals by mankind.

Let’s all save the wildlife.