In December 2013, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution to establish March 3 as World Wildlife Day, and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora was adopted on this day in 1973. Therefore, this year's International Day also celebrates the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention.
Guterres said that the Convention has helped protect thousands of species of plants and animals, and the "Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework" agreed by countries last year has become an important step on the road to healing for the earth.
Reflection on human activity
Guterres said that human activities are destroying once-thriving forests, jungles, farmland, rivers, oceans, lakes and seas; due to habitat destruction, fossil fuel pollution and worsening climate crisis, millions of species are on the verge of extinction.
He emphasized that humans must use the tools, knowledge and solutions available to end this war on nature. And now is the time to take bolder action to reduce emissions, accelerate the development of renewable energy, and build resilience to climate change.
He added, "We need to keep the voices of the world's most tangible custodians of biodiversity – local communities and indigenous peoples – front and center throughout this process."
Maintain partnership
Billions of people in developed and developing countries benefit every day from the benefits that wildlife provides, including food, energy, materials, medicine, recreation, inspiration and many other contributions to human well-being.
The theme of this year's World Wildlife Day is "Partnerships for Wildlife Conservation". Partnerships have been at the heart of CITES for the past 50 years.
Under the convention, UN agencies, private sector organisations, charities and NGOs must continue to work on the conservation and sustainable use of wildlife and continue to combat illegal trade and consumption of wildlife. Sustaining existing partnerships and forging new ones is critical to the future of all life on Earth.