Today, March 3, is United Nations World Wildlife Day (WWD), the annual global event to celebrate animals and plants and their unique roles in the lives of people and the planet. The day also celebrates the important conservation work being done around the world.

Wildlife is a significant part of life in this planet.  It is the source of the essentials of life – from food, medicines, housing, clothing to fuel.  Yet it is ironic that man has caused the imbalance in biodiversity to maintain life. A simple example are the endangered species of flora and fauna which live in the forests.  As man claims parts of the forest for shelter and livelihood activities, habitats of animals are destroyed, threatening the life of certain species. In time, many become endangered, even extinct.

Initiatives on wildlife conservation have been moving around the world to maintain biodiversity so plant and animal species are able to exist for future generations.

World Wildlife Day was declared by the UN General Assembly on December 20, 2013, a significant date as this was the day when the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was signed in 1973.

Today, many countries are celebrating WWD2024 with various activities aimed to deepen awareness and commitments to conserve wildlife, starting with reminders on contributing to efforts to save endangered species from extinction.

In the Philippines, there is a long list of threatened plant and animal species classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Among them is the Philippine eagle and the Tamaraw which can be found only in Mindoro.

According to the Philippine Eagle Foundation,  the Philippine eagle is one of the rarest eagles in the world and is listed as critically endangered with an estimated 400 pairs left in the wild.

The Tamaraw’s population has increased from the 154 in 2000, to 494 in 2019 with concerted efforts to protect the animal, supported by  a presidential proclamation in 2002 that declared October of every year as a “Special Month for the Conservation and Protection of the Tamaraw in Mindoro.”

Deforestation and the destruction of habitat have been listed as the major causes of the endangered state of both animals.

To quote a study: “The encroachment of human populations on several plant and animal species’ natural habitats has been a primary agent for the loss of biodiversity. Displacement from one’s habitat leaves species vulnerable to harsher new living conditions, predation from other species, and scarcity or inaccessibility of resources required for survival.”

This year, the WWD2024 celebration focuses on the theme “Connecting people and planet: Exploring digital innovation in wildlife conservation.” Under this theme, WWD 2024 will aim to raise awareness about the latest applications of digital technologies in wildlife conservation and trade and about the impact of digital interventions on ecosystems and communities around the world.

Technology has made many aspects of wildlife conservation easier and more efficient, such as research, communication, tracking, and DNA analysis. But critical issues remain because so many still have no access to these new tools.  Sixty-six percent of the global community have internet access but around 2.7 billion people are still not online.

With these challenges, work continues, because of the need to raise awareness of the multitude of benefits that the conservation of wild fauna and flora provides to people.

Plan a walk in the forest with your children soon.  Awareness of the beauty – and contributions – of wildlife can start there.