World Wildlife Day 2025

About World Wildlife Day

On 20 December 2013, at its 68th session, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) proclaimed 3 March – the day of signature of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 1973 – as UN World Wildlife Day.

World Wildlife Day celebrates the beautiful and varied forms of wild fauna and flora and to raise awareness of the multitude of benefits that their conservation provides to people. At the same time, World Wildlife Day reminds us of the urgent need to step up the fight against wildlife crime and human-induced reduction of species, which have wide-ranging economic, environmental and social impacts.

The UNGA resolution also designated the CITES Secretariat as the facilitator for the global observance of this special day for wildlife on the UN calendar. World Wildlife Day has now become the most important global annual event dedicated to wildlife.

2025 Theme

World Wildlife Day 2025 will be held under the theme “Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet” to explore how we can work together to finance wildlife conservation more effectively and sustainably and build a resilient future for both people and the planet. The year 2025 will also coincide with the 50th anniversary of the entry into force of CITES.

From the highland steppe to the coral reefs, wild animals and plants hold intrinsic value. As essential parts of Earth’s intricate web of life, they sustain ecosystems, regulate natural processes, and support biodiversity. Wildlife also provides essential services that support human livelihoods and contribute to achieving the Strategic Vision of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) for 2030 (CITES Strategic Vision: 2021-2030), the goals and targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

With more than 1 million species now estimated to be threatened with extinction amid the intensifying triple planetary crisis, innovative finance for wildlife conservation has never been more urgent. Over half of the world’s gross domestic product (GDP) is dependent on nature, making biodiversity loss an increasing threat to financial stability and livelihoods.

Current financial flows are insufficient for governments to meet national biodiversity targets, particularly in biodiversity hotspots located in low-to-middle-income countries. Although USD 143 billion is invested annually in biodiversity conservation, this falls short of the estimated USD 824 billion needed each year. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for an SDG Stimulus of at least USD 500 billion to boost long-term financing for development, including nature.

The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework has revitalized efforts to halt and reverse biodiversity loss, targeting the mobilization of at least USD 200 billion annually for biodiversity and the elimination or reform of harmful subsidies by 2030. There is growing interest in innovative financial approaches, such as Debt-for-Nature swaps and Wildlife Conservation Bonds, which convert national debts into conservation funds and attract private investment for wildlife protection. Payments for ecosystem services (PES), like wildlife credits, generate revenue for landowners and communities managing wildlife resources.

World Wildlife Day 2025 will serve as a platform for exchange and exploration of innovative financial solutions for wildlife conservation. It will showcase financial innovations, the challenges faced by civil society, governments, organisations, and the private sector, and the collaborative approaches needed to ensure sustainable funding for biodiversity.

This year, the high-level United Nations celebration event will take place on Monday, 3 March 2025 at the United Nations Palais des Nations in Geneva and will be livestreamed on the World Wildlife Day YouTube channel.

We have a responsibility to unlock the power and agility of the finance sector and mainstream nature-positive considerations in the spheres of investment. Wildlife conservation finance is about conserving plant and animal species in the wild, and contributing to the conservation of our planet’s biodiversity that sustains all ecosystems and communities worldwide.
— CITES Secretary-General Ivonne Higuero

Celebrate World Wildlife Day in Geneva

The UN Celebration of World Wildlife Day took place on 3 March 2025 at Palais des Nations from 10:00 to 12:00 CET.

In addition to the high-level event, the CITES Secretariat is collaborating with various partners in the organization of other important moments to discover and learn more about efforts to conserve and protect wildlife in Geneva.

Find photos of the World Wildlife Day celebrations around Geneva on World Wildlife Day Flickr.

Key Messages

Links

• Celebrating World Wildlife Day in Geneva and Beyond