World Wildlife Day is a celebration of the world’s rich biodiversity. It is also a day that highlights the issues such as over-exploitation of wildlife, poaching, trafficking, forest fires, and the overall safety of the endangered species.
The most significant yearly global celebration of animals is called World Wildlife Day. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was established on March 3rd, 1973.
An international treaty called CITES was created by nations to control the trade in species and guard against their overexploitation. CITES currently protects 30,000 species of plants and 5,800 species of animals!
The third of March is a chance to appreciate the incredible biodiversity with which we share our world and to draw attention to the issues that are endangering the delicate balance that supports all life.
Our planet's biodiversity is currently in great jeopardy. Wild animals are also affected by the destructive effects of climate change, which include heatwaves, stronger storms, droughts, and floods.
The deliberate bushfires that were started in Brazil last year to clear land for animals horrified the entire world. The sheer quantity of plants and animals that perished in the Amazon Rainforest fires is difficult to estimate. No one is currently aware of the extent of the damage to the populations. Regrettably, the total environmental loss caused by the Australian bushfires quickly surpassed this calamity.
The current and widespread coronavirus outbreak also draws attention to the illegal wildlife trade. The infection is thought to have spread from animals to people at a wildlife market in China, according to experts. In reaction, their government outlawed the sale, trade, and consumption of wild animals in an effort to stop the spread of zoonotic illnesses.
Currently, plants from rainforests provide around 40% of contemporary medications. Considering that only 5% of Amazonian plant species have had their potential medicinal uses investigated, that is a remarkable statistic.
The rapid loss of biodiversity is just as bad for humanity as climate change. There are currently one million animal and plant species that are in danger of going extinct, which has major repercussions for both humans and the rest of life on Earth.
In both wealthy and underdeveloped nations, there are irrefutable connections between biodiversity, nature, and elements like food security and clean water. This planet is habitable due to the diversity of species and interactions among all living things. Our very life, not just that of our civilization but also that of our species, is in danger if we lose this richness.
Photo Credit: www.reef-distribution.com, www.balisafarimarinepark.com, www.unsplash.com, www.elephantguide.com.
Also Read: