3 March is UN World Wildlife Day, the day the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was signed in 1973.  The day celebrates and raises awareness of the world’s wild animals and plants. 
 
World Wildlife Day 2021 has the theme “Forests and Livelihoods: Sustaining People and Planet.”  This is to highlight the central role of forests, forest species and ecosystems services in sustaining the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people globally, and particularly of indigenous and local communities with historic ties to forested and forest-adjacent areas.
 
This aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals 1, 12, 13 and 15, and their wide-ranging commitments to alleviating poverty, ensuring sustainable use of resources, and on conserving life land.
 
For more information about World Wildlife Day see the website.

Image: Common gecko, Sabine Berner