Celebrating World Wildlife Day in Geneva and Beyond

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.

2026 Theme

World Wildlife Day 2026 will shine a spotlight on the critical role of medicinal and aromatic plants under the theme: “Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Conserving Health, Heritage and Livelihoods.”

Medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) are essential for both human health and ecological balance. Around the world, people collect and use MAPs, such as American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), spikenard (Nardostachys grandiflora) and agarwood (Aquilaria, Gonystylus and Gyrinops species), for treating and preventing illnesses. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes their significance, particularly in developing countries, where 70-95 per cent of the population relies on traditional medicine for primary healthcare. These plants form the foundation of many healthcare systems and remain vital to modern pharmaceuticals, as numerous active drug compounds are derived directly or indirectly from natural sources, despite advancements in synthetic chemistry.

Beyond their medicinal uses, MAPs also contribute to various industries, including cosmetics, food, and luxury goods. The genetic resources derived from MAPs and traditional knowledge about MAPs have been used for diverse applications in agriculture, medicine and conservation. Ensuring the sharing of benefits arising from this use is essential and can provide incentives for conservation and sustainable use of wildlife (Target 13 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework).

Additionally, MAPs play a crucial role in supporting ecosystems by stabilizing soils, promoting biodiversity and providing essential resources for pollinators, such as bees and hummingbirds. However, many of these valuable species face growing threats from habitat destruction, overharvesting and illegal trade, making their conservation a global priority.

Approximately 50,000-70,000 medicinal and aromatic plant (MAP) species are harvested globally, of which around 1,500 are estimated to be listed in CITES Appendices and over 800 listed in CITES Appendix II. MAP cultivation and harvest practices secure vital resources for many households around the world, with one in five people relying on wild plants, algae and fungi for their food and income. MAPs can play a vital role in livelihood diversification for marginalized populations living in remote areas and serve as an important factor in the source countries’ local economies. It is also critical to ensure equitable access to benefit-sharing for these local communities in the countries of origin. For example, the global revenue from traditional Chinese medicine was USD 83 billion in 2012. Annual expenditures in the traditional medicine sector in the Republic of Korea were USD 7.4 billion in 2009, and private spending for natural products in the United States of America was USD 14.8 billion in 2008.

The European market for herbal supplements and herbal medicines is estimated to be worth USD 7.4 billion per year. The conservation and sustainable trade of MAPs directly support the achievement of several targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF); namely, Target 5 which calls for ensuring the sustainable use, harvesting and trade of wild species; Target 10 which emphasizes the need to manage and restore ecosystems that support biodiversity; and Target 9 which highlights the critical role of Indigenous peoples and local communities in conservation, recognizing their knowledge and sustainable practices. Over 20 per cent of plant species used globally for medicinal and aromatic purposes are considered to be threatened with extinction on the IUCN Red List, mainly due to overharvesting, habitat loss, climate change and unregulated or illegal international trade. Raising awareness, strengthening regulations and ensuring the sustainability of harvesting and trade are essential for these invaluable plant resources to survive in the wild.

World Wildlife Day 2026 will serve as a platform to highlight the vital role of medicinal and aromatic plants in sustaining human health, cultural heritage, and local livelihoods. It will showcase the diversity of these species—from aloes and frankincense to orchids—their contributions to traditional knowledge and primary healthcare, and the growing pressures they face from habitat loss, overharvesting, and climate change. The observance will also explore the challenges encountered by Indigenous peoples, rural communities, governments, and conservation partners, and the collaborative actions needed to ensure that these plants are conserved and used sustainably for future generations to continue benefitting from them.

Celebrate World Wildlife Day in Geneva

The Geneva Environment Network collaborated with the CITES Secretariat and other partners to host the traditional World Wildlife Day celebration in Geneva.

In line with the World Wildlife Day 2026 United Nations event taking place online, the CITES Secretariat and the Geneva Environment Network organized the traditional Geneva celebration to showcase the role of Geneva in highlighting the importance of medicinal and aromatic plants in sustaining human health, cultural heritage, and local livelihoods and in advancing collaborative actions needed to ensure that these plants are conserved and used sustainably for future generations to continue benefitting from them.

The celebration will also feature Lightning Talks – five-minute presentations (PechaKucha format 20×20) – where experts will provide a presentation on an aspect of their choosing that relates to medicinal and aromatic plants. These talks aim to explore the benefits and various applications of MAPs as well as innovative ways to overcome the pressing challenges they face from habitat loss, overharvesting, and climate change, as well as the important role played by those who protect them, such as  Indigenous peoples, rural communities,governments, and conservationists. A dedicated World Wildlife Day Exhibition also took place in parallel.

Leading up to the high-level United Nations event for WWD2026 on Tuesday, 3 March 2026, online activities included the annual Jackson Wild Film Showcase and ifaw Youth Art Contest.

World Wildlife Day 2026 United Nations Virtual Celebration

The CITES Secretariat, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), International Fund for Animal Welfare (ifaw), Jackson Wild, the Geneva Environment Network, IUCN SSC Medicinal Plant Specialist Group and TRAFFIC hosted the annual World Wildlife Day United Nations global celebration.

The virtual celebration will feature stories and presentations about the sustainable use and conservation of medicinal and aromatic plants by Member State experts, high-level representatives of international organisations, industry stakeholders, local community leaders and youth network members.

Other segments include the announcement of the winners and finalists of the IFAW 2026 Youth Art Contest, and the reveal of the Jackson Wild 2026 Film Showcase feature films.

The United Nations Postal Administration and the CITES Secretariat will launch the 2026 Endangered Species Stamps Series during the event.

Other Activities Taking Place in Geneva

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• Inédit : des cigognes séjournent à Genève | Dans ma nature

Yearly Themes and Activities

Since 2014, the international community has been celebrating World Wildlife Day with a different theme selected for each year. Find more information for each year below:

• 2026 | Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Conserving Health, Heritage and Livelihoods
• 2025 | Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet
• 2024 | Connecting People and Planet: Exploring Digital Innovation in Wildlife Conservation
• 2023 | Partnerships for Wildlife Conservation
• 2022 | Recovering key species for ecosystem restoration
• 2021 | Forests and Livelihoods: Sustaining People and Planet
• 2020 | Sustaining all life on Earth
• 2019 | Life below water: for people and planet
• 2018 | Big cats: predators under threat
• 2017 | Listen to the young voices
• 2016 | The future of wildlife is in our hands
• 2015 | It’s time to get serious about wildlife crime
• 2014 | First Celebration

Role of Geneva

International Geneva

Geneva and its surrounding area host important international organizations working on wild medicinal and aromatic plants and/or other wildlife.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

CITES is an international agreement between governments. Because the trade in wild animals and plants crosses borders between countries, the effort to regulate it requires international cooperation to safeguard certain species from over-exploitation. CITES was conceived in the spirit of such cooperation with the aim to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. Today, it accords varying degrees of protection to more than 37,000 species of animals and plants, whether they are traded as live specimens, fur coats or dried herbs.

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

ITU is the UN specialized agency responsible for many matters related to information and communication technologies. While Information and Communication Technology (ICT) directly impact the environment, biodiversity, loss resulting from raw material extraction, increased production, contaminating disposal of end-of-life ICT equipment, and land occupation, ICTs and digital technologies such as IoT, artificial intelligence and digital twin are helping monitor biodiversity through remote sensor networks, data gathering and management to promote the conservation of biodiversity.

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

IUCN is a membership Union composed of both government and civil society organisations. It harnesses the experience, resources and reach of its more than 1,400 Member organisations and the input of more than 18,000 experts. This diversity and vast expertise makes IUCN the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it. IUCN hosts the Red List of Threatened Species, the Red List of Ecosystems and the Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas. Additionally, ecosystem restoration has been identified as one of the priority areas of the IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management (CEM).

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) – Europe Office

The UNEP Europe Office provides guidance to national governments at various levels, and to take part in the dialogue on environmental issues between governmental authorities, civil society, the private sector and other stakeholders. This includes projects to strengthen ecosystem management, for the benefit of people and biodiversity. The Europe Office in Geneva also hosts the Tehran Convention, a framework designed to protect the marine environment of the Caspian Sea.

United Nations Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (UN-REDD)

The UN-REDD Programme was launched in 2008 and builds on the convening role and technical expertise of the FAO, UNDP and UNEP. The Programme supports nationally led REDD+ processes and promotes the informed and meaningful involvement of all stakeholders, including indigenous peoples and other forest-dependent communities, in national and international REDD+ implementation. Additionally, the programme supports national REDD+ readiness efforts in 65 partner countries, spanning Africa, Asia-Pacific and Latin America.

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

In 1996, UNCTAD launched the BioTrade Initiative to support the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity. BioTrade refers to those activities of collection, production, transformation, and commercialization of goods and services derived from native biodiversity under the criteria of environmental, social and economic sustainability. The seven principles address issues such as conservation, restoration and sustainable use of biodiversity, equitable sharing of the benefits of BioTrade between different actors, and respect for the rights of indigenous people and local communities.

WWF International

WWF is an independent conservation organization active in nearly 100 countries to sustain the natural world for the benefit of people and wildlife. Working with many others – from individuals and communities to business and government – WWF urgently seeks to protect and restore natural habitats, stop the mass extinction of wildlife, and make the way we produce and consume sustainable.

World Economic Forum

WEF is leading the Nature Action Agenda (NAA) is a multi-sector movement catalyzing economic action to halt biodiversity loss by 2030 and enable humans to live in harmony with nature. It aims to build business and policy action by building a knowledge base, catalyzing leadership, scaling solutions, and supporting an enabling environment by ensuring implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Earthworm Foundation

Earthworm Foundation, formerly known as The Forest Trust, works to preserve forests and oceans, while empowering the people that care for our lands and produce our everyday needs. Their projects contribute to a world where forests are a boundless source of materials and a home for biodiversity; communities see their rights respected and have opportunities to develop; workers are seen as productive partners; and agriculture becomes the instrument to feed a hungry planet and keep our climate stable.

Local Geneva

State of Geneva

Geneva is active in protecting biodiversity, which faces significant pressure due to urbanization and high human population density. Geneva’s Strategic Plan for Biodiversity highlights the need to promote biodiversity at every scale, from land-use planning to concrete achievements in neighborhoods or gardens. The State has also established several protected areas, covering 2,7% of its territory, and is developing various restoration projects for rivers and lake banks. In regard to the Swiss context, significant success could be achieved for the local biodiversity thanks to the active collaboration of the local agriculture actors. Geneva has also published a campaign called CATS OUTDOORS to raise awareness on the threats posed by domestic cats in an attempt to recover a local key species, the European wild cat.

Association pour la Sauvegarde du Léman | ASL

ASL is a joint French and Swiss non-profit organisation dedicated to safeguarding the water quality and aquatic ecosystems of the area around the Lac Léman (Lake Geneva), including both the lake itself and its many rivers. ASL works to preserve the rich biodiversity of the region, including its aquatic plants and bird species.

Espace Léman, which was designed as a showcase of ASL for biodiversity, presents the flora and fauna of Lake Geneva and the threats to this unique ecosystem. Located in the heart of Eaux-Vives (GE), Espace Léman encourages direct contact with the public, enabling discovery of the lake in a whole new way and raising aware of the importance of sustainable management of aquatic ecosystems (lake, rivers) and water resources.

Conservatory and Botanical Garden

Occupying roughly 28 hectares, the city of Geneva’s Conservatory and Botanical Garden is the largest public botanical garden in Switzerland. With a six-fold mission of exploration, conservation, research, transmission of knowledge, protection, and cooperation, the botanical garden is home to a living collection of more than 15,000 species of wild or cultivated flora, which includes a variety of CITES protected species, and a herbarium of nearly 6 million botanical specimens.

Faune Genève

Faune Genève is a non-profit association aiming at protecting and raising awareness of the fauna of Geneva. Its website is an official platform for naturalists and wildlife observers in the region.

La Libellule

La Libellule is a non-profit association raising public environmental awareness through field activities, mainly in the Geneva region.

Bioparc Geneva

The Bioparc works for the conservation of local and exotic animal species by participating in conservation programs, providing environmental awareness and education on wildlife, developing a recognized animal-assisted intervention center, and collaborating in research. It is home to more than 250 animals, a third of which are threatened of extinction. The Bioparc is part of the Action Plan for Biodiversity of the State of Geneva.

Pro Natura

Pro Natura is the oldest nature preservation organization in Switzerland, with several protected sites with important wildlife such as the Centre Nature Vallon de l’Allondon and the Centre Nature de la Pointe à la Bise in Geneva.

WWF Geneva

WWF Geneva works to implement projects in support of biodiversity, which includes a Panda Club that organizes outings and activities for young people on environmental issues.

Dans Ma Nature

The platform dansmaNature.ch aims to increase public awareness of biodiversity. A collaborative work by the Canton of Geneva and local associations and institutions, the platform brings together all the activities organized in Geneva, including excursions and nature-friendly outings.

GEN Events

The Geneva Environment Network has supported the CITES Secretariat in the organization of World Wildlife Day Celebrations in Geneva.

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