The Nepal Weekly 
March 5, 2024
By Shiksha Khanal
World Wildlife Day 2024 was celebrated on 3 March globally including in Nepal. A high-level event was organized on March 4 at United Nations Headquarters in New York, USA. The World Wildlife Day is celebrated to honor the incredible animals and plants that share our planet with us. The theme for World Wildlife Day 2024 is “Connecting People and Planet: Exploring Digital Innovation in Wildlife Conservation.”
The theme recognizes the role of digital tools and technologies in wildlife conservation. These include satellite tracking to monitor endangered species, data-driven approaches for understanding wildlife migration patterns, and innovative solutions for combating wildlife trafficking. Technological innovation has made research, communication, tracking, DNA analysis and many other aspects of wildlife conservation easier, more efficient and accurate. Likewise, these tools enable scientists and conservationists to better understand species’ behavior, monitor populations, and identify conservation priorities The day itself is significant because on March 3, 1973, a very important agreement called the “Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora” (CITES) was signed. This agreement helps in protecting endangered animals and plants from being extinct owing to illegal trade and poaching activities.
World Wildlife Day reminds us of the importance of preserving our planet’s rich biodiversity. On World Wildlife Day, people around the globe come together to celebrate the beauty and diversity of wildlife at the same time also recognizing the urgent need to combat wildlife crime, habitat destruction, and other threats to the natural world. Events such as educational programs, awareness generation, community activities, and conservation initiatives are organized to mark the day and inspire action towards protecting our planet’s precious wildlife.
Habitat Destruction, Climate Change, Poaching and Illegal Wildlife Trade, Invasive Species, Pollution, Over exploitation of natural resources are some of the major challenges to conservation of wildlife and protection of biodiversity. Despite these challenges, significant efforts have been made to protect wildlife worldwide. This includes the establishment of protected areas, conservation laws and regulations, community-based conservation initiatives, and international agreements such as the Convention on Biological Diversity and CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora).
With concerted efforts from governments, NGOs, local communities, and individuals, it is possible to mitigate these threats and ensure a future where wildlife can thrive alongside humans. The Government of Nepal has taken many strategic steps to conserve the wildlife and their habitats to maintain ecosystem health and contribute to national prosperity. The history of biodiversity conservation was formally started during the early 1970s with a special focus on endangered species by establishing protected areas (PAs). Chitwan National Park (CNP) was declared as the first national park of Nepal in 1973 to protect greater one horned rhinoceros. Since then, a network of twenty PAs (National Parks-12, Wildlife Reserve-1, Hunting Reserve-1, Conservation Area-6 and Buffer Zones-13) has been established covering 23.39% of the country’s land.
