Spread the 'world' this Wildlife Day

HELP KEY SPECIES RECOVER TO RESTORE ECOSYSTEMS

The United Nations 'World Wildlife Day' (3rd March 2022), is an opportunity to celebrate the beauty of all of creation from the smallest to the largest species, whilst at the same time, reminding us of the urgent need to step up the fight against wildlife crime, habitat loss and pollution.

The theme this year, 'Recovering key species for ecosystem restoration' reflects the fact that it's never been so important to address our biodiversity crisis. According to data from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, over 8,400 species of wild fauna and flora are critically endangered, while close to 30,000 more are understood to be endangered or vulnerable. Based on these estimates, it is suggested that over a million species are threatened with extinction. The threats are often so big and complex that individuals may feel powerless but every persons' individual actions add up - which can make a huge difference for species and ecosystems.

It's hoped the day will draw attention to status of those that most need our help and drive discussions towards developing solutions to conserve them. You can help by raising awareness of the future of endangered species amongst your friends and family, office or community through outreach materials including videos, social media and other resources that can be found HERE.

You could also identify the species that face the most urgent threats in your area and develop initiatives for involving your community to conserve them.

Though World Wildlife Day is an annual celebration, wildlife conservation is an issue that needs attention and action every day. Here are a couple of current petitions you may also like to sign, which each need 100,000 signatures to be considered for debate in Parliament:-

- Stop the Grind Suspend trade agreements with the Faroe Islands until all whale & dolphin hunts end.

- Ban wildlife snares Make the use of free-running snares illegal for trapping wildlife in the UK.