World Wildlife Day is celebrated today, which focuses on the importance of protecting wild animals and plants across the world. It recognises the vital role wildlife plays in sustaining ecosystems, supporting livelihoods, and maintaining ecological balance. Union Home Minister Amit Shah reiterated the commitment to the cause of wildlife conservation, saying that the country’s eternal values teach people to live in harmony with nature. In a social media message, he shared that every form of life, from the royal tiger to the smallest species, plays a vital role in maintaining ecological balance and that the collective commitment to the cause of wildlife conservation must be strengthened.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi echoed the sentiment, and shared on X, “World Wildlife Day is about celebrating the incredible faunal diversity that enriches our planet and sustains our ecosystems. It is a day to acknowledge everyone working towards wildlife protection. We reaffirm our commitment to conservation, sustainable practices and protecting habitats so that our wildlife continues to thrive.”
World Wildlife Day
On 20 December 2013, at its 68th Session, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared March 3 as United Nations World Wildlife Day (WWD), marking the anniversary of the 1973 signing of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The CITES Secretariat was designated to facilitate the global observance, which has since become the world’s leading annual event dedicated to wildlife. Wildlife and biodiversity support human life. They provide us with food, fuel, medicine, and employment. World Wildlife Day honors this essential link between us and wildlife and emphasizes our international obligation to safeguard wildlife and biodiversity for future generations. Read more: 6 unique flowers of the Indian Himalayas, and where are they found
A year for medicinal and aromatic plants
While tigers, elephants and rhinos often dominate conservation headlines, the 2026 theme shifts attention to: “Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Conserving Health, Heritage and Livelihoods.” Observed annually on March 3 under the aegis of the United Nations, World Wildlife Day highlights the role of wild animals and plants in sustaining ecosystems and human well-being. This year’s focus on medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) places global attention on species that form the backbone of traditional medicine and modern pharmaceuticals alike.
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Throughout the world, people depend on plants such as American ginseng, spikenard, and agarwood to prevent and cure diseases. The World Health Organization reports that between 70% to 95% of the population in developing countries depend on traditional medicine for their primary healthcare needs, a significant number of which involve plant-based medicines. Beyond healthcare, these plants contribute to cosmetics, food production, perfumery, and luxury goods industries. Genetic resources derived from them, along with traditional knowledge, are also used in agriculture, conservation and modern drug development.
Conservation challenge
However, rising global demand comes at a cost. Approximately 50,000 to 70,000 MAP species are collected worldwide. About 1,500 of these MAPs are listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) list. More than 20% of the plant species utilized for medicinal purposes are listed under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List due to overharvesting, habitat loss, climate change, and illicit trade. Wild harvesting is the main source of food and income for millions of families around the world, especially for those who live in remote and indigenous communities. One in five people around the world uses wild plants, algae, and fungi for food and income. The stakes are therefore both ecological and economic. The theme aligns with several targets of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, particularly those focusing on sustainable use of wild species, ecosystem restoration and equitable benefit-sharing with Indigenous and local communities.Read more: Why UNESCO has threatened to take away world heritage tag from Jaipur
The economics of tradition
Traditional medicine is not a niche sector. The global revenue from traditional Chinese medicine reached USD 83 billion in 2012. In the Republic of Korea, annual expenditures in the sector stood at USD 7.4 billion in 2009. In the United States, private spending on natural products touched USD 14.8 billion in 2008, while Europe’s herbal supplement market is estimated at USD 7.4 billion annually. These figures showcases a simple reality: conservation of medicinal plants is inseparable from economic policy, trade regulation and sustainable harvesting practices. The 2026 United Nations observance will be livestreamed on the official World Wildlife Day YouTube channel. The CITES Secretariat has partnered with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Jackson Wild, host of the World Wildlife Day Film Showcase, and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), which organises the International Youth Art Contest. In 2026, the message is: conserving nature is not just about protecting animals in forests. It is also about protecting the herbs that heal, sustain, and link people to their heritage.
