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Wildlife

Chipo Munsaka explains her first name means "a gift for conserving wildlife," which sums up her commitment to addressing conflicts between humans and wildlife. Chipo works as a Resource Monitor in northern Zimbabwe with the Mucheni Community Conservancy, which is being established by the Sustainable Wildlife Management () Programme. Populations of many wildlife species in Zimbabwe have been declining over the last 30 years due to droughts, habitat loss, poaching, and the sale of wildlife products. The SWM Programme supports community conservancies to improve land use planning and promote wildlife corridors to reduce conflict and create benefits for communities that coexist with wildlife.

An AI generated image of an Arabian Leopard resting on top a stone.

The United Nations declared February 10 as the Day of the Arabian Leopard to raise global awareness and spur conservation efforts for this critically endangered subspecies. With fewer than 200 individuals remaining, the Arabian leopard faces threats from habitat loss, urbanization, overgrazing, poaching, and the illegal wildlife trade. By designating the species as a flagship for regional biodiversity conservation, the UN encourages enhanced cooperation among stakeholders, as part of a broader initiative under the to protect our planet's fragile ecosystems.

Wild tigers have a crucial place in Asian landscapes and biodiversity and act as both an umbrella and indicator species, protecting the wider ecosystem and indicating a healthy environment.

Over the past 12 years, tiger populations have begun to rise in 5 countries – increasing for the first time in over a century. With effective, collaborative conservation, evidence shows tiger numbers can recover.

As part of the solution, fighting for a future with tigers, the Tiger Conservation Coalition brings together leading biologists and experts in wildlife crime, human-wildlife coexistence, policy, finance, development and communications, with unprecedented alignment on achieving tiger conservation at scale. Its member organisations include IUCN, the Environmental Investigation Agency; Fauna & Flora; Natural State; Panthera; TRAFFIC; ; the Wildlife Conservation Society; WWF and ZSL.

We cannot be without biodiversity. We are part of the complex web of life, and biodiversity is a part of us. Biodiversity describes the wide range of life forms on Earth, from genes to entire ecosystems. It encompasses the processes that maintain life, including evolution, ecology, and climate stability. Biodiversity incorporates all living beings - from humans to microbes and fungi.  Recognizing the imperative to protect the natural world, the world came together in December 2022 where 196 countries signed the , known as  This is nothing less than a plan for humanity to restore its balance with the natural environment for a nature positive future. Responding in a bolder, more ambitious way than ever before, the newly launched  is UNDP's commitment to support governments to meet the goals and targets of The Biodiversity Plan and secure a nature-positive future.

Close-up of a bee gathering pollen from a flower.

Bees and other pollinators are essential for our existence, sustaining agriculture and biodiversity worldwide. Over 20,000 species of bees and other wild pollinators face challenges from human activities, such as habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change. Highlighting the pivotal role that youth can play in addressing challenges bees and other pollinators are facing, World Bee Day 2024 focuses on the theme "Bee engaged with Youth." This theme recognizes the importance of involving young people in beekeeping and pollinator conservation efforts, as the future stewards of our environment.   

(11 May) works to increase the level of awareness about the threats – both general and specific – that birds are facing. In the vast expanse of the Rift Valley/Red Sea flyway, where azure waters meet golden sands, over 1.5 million birds – representing 37 species, five of whom are globally threatened - take flight each year. Among them are species on the brink of extinction, their survival hanging in the balance. Against the backdrop of this natural wonder, human activities have cast a shadow of threat upon these winged travelers. This story highlights a Global Environment Facility-financed project led by .

In Asia's forests, tigers are endangered due to habitat loss, poaching, illegal wildlife trade, and human-wildlife conflict, warns the United Nations Development Programme (). Despite these challenges, tiger populations have started to rise in five countries, including India, Bhutan, and Nepal. The Royal Government of Bhutan is hosting the to catalyze $1 billion for tiger conservation and innovative fiscal models to support investments in tiger landscapes.

Baby sea lion being followed by a camera mounted on a rover

This year's World Wildlife Day (3 March), under the theme “Connecting People and Planet: Exploring Digital Innovation in Wildlife Conservation”, focuses on how digital technologies can drive wildlife conservation, sustainable and legal wildlife trade, and human-wildlife coexistence. While technological advancements have significantly improved various aspects of wildlife conservation, including research, communication, tracking, and DNA analysis, challenges such as uneven internet access, environmental pollution, and unsustainable technology use impede achieving universal digital inclusion by 2030.

The first edition, , underscores the urgent need for international cooperation to address the alarming population declines and extinction risks facing migratory species.

In Kyrgyzstan's Tien-Shan mountains, locals work as community rangers to protect the Baiboosun Nature Reserve. This micro-reserve conserves local flora and fauna, including the elusive snow leopard and ibex populations. Since its establishment, sustainable tourism and green businesses have emerged, offering economic opportunities to the community such as running guest houses, producing cheese and crafting felt souvenirs. The Baiboosun Nature Reserve is part of a multi-country initiative to restore ecosystems in mountain regions, coordinated by the (UNEP), the (FAO), and the Carpathian Convention.

UNCTAD logo

This episode of the looks at the illegal wildlife trade with David Vivas, a United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (legal officer working on trade and environmental issues.

Every year, huge numbers of animals and plants are bought and sold illicitly as food, medicine, clothing, furniture and even musical instruments.

Wildlife is big business. The illegal trade is estimated to be worth at least $7 billion but it could be much larger.

Trafficking is driving some species – especially rhinos, elephants, tigers, lions and pangolins – towards extinction. Many others are at risk.

Image credit: UNCTAD

March 3 is and also marks the 50th anniversary of . People everywhere rely on wildlife and biodiversity-based resources to meet all our needs, from food, to fuel, medicines, housing, and clothing. Millions of people rely on nature as the source of their livelihoods and economic opportunities. But more than our needs, nature has proven to be essential for our mental health too.

mammal watching

Mammalwatching: The New Ecotourism Frontier

presents a new social movement – mammalwatching. First came birdwatching, then whalewatching, now there is ‘mammalwatching’ which is like birdwatching except with mammals. Like birders, ‘mammalwatchers’ have a ‘life list’ that they actively seek to fill, and every mammal counts - from the Big Five (lions, buffaloes, leopards, elephants, rhinos), to the more humbly proportioned elephant shrew. Fast-growing nature tourism has made tremendous contributions to nature conservation, prompting the creation of protected areas, contributing to research through citizen science, and with the ecotourism dollars that bring practical financial benefits to people living in rural and undisturbed environments worldwide.

World Wildlife Day poster 2023 composed of humans and different wildlife species of plants and animals

Billions of people worldwide rely on wildlife to meet their needs - from food, fuel and medicines to housing and clothing. With a million species of plants and animals facing extinction, these natural resources are threatened. World Wildlife Day reminds us of the urgent need to fight against wildlife crime and human-induced reduction of species. The 2023 theme, ",” celebrates the 50th anniversary of , an agreement between governments to ensure that international trade in wildlife does not threaten their survival.

Biodiversity is the living fabric of our planet. It underpins human wellbeing, and its rapid decline threatens nature and people alike. It is vital to transform people’s roles, actions and relationships with biodiversity, to halt and reverse its decline. Safeguarding biodiversity must become one of the major priorities of our time. about ’s commitment to biodiversity.