On this Sunday, March 3rd, the entire world is celebrating the untamed beauty of the animal and plant kingdoms.
For this 2024 edition, the focus is on unraveling the connection between digital technology and the realm of nature.
The mission is to democratize internet access, delving into how digital technology, encompassing visuals, art and design, location services, digital sensors, film or photo and more, can enhance the preservation of wildlife.



It's a broad avenue of exploration, a mature contemplation for an increasingly crucial and urgent reality.
Nature begets life in myriad forms, at times unexpected, often nearing perfection. And if perfection exists, it resides within the embrace of nature.

The global "digital divide" is gradually closing, with improved connectivity and internet access now reaching 66 percent of the world's population. Nevertheless, a substantial 2.7 billion people worldwide still lack online access. In the least developed and landlocked developing countries, only 36 percent of the populations, on average, have internet connectivity. Notably, women and young individuals are more prone to experiencing gaps in internet access and/or lacking job-ready digital skills.

While technological innovation has simplified research, communication, tracking, DNA analysis, and various aspects of wildlife conservation, disparities in accessing these new tools, coupled with environmental pollution and unsustainable applications of certain technologies, pose significant challenges.

World Wildlife Day 2024 serves as a platform for intergenerational exchange and youth empowerment, featuring art, presentations, and conversations on the forthcoming opportunities in digital wildlife conservation for our shared sustainable future. WWD2024 becomes a starting point for exploring the current landscape of digital innovations, addressing intersectional discrepancies, and shaping the evolution of digital connectivity for the benefit of all people and the planet.

This year, the CITES Secretariat has collaborated with the United Nations Development Programme, WILDLABS, Jackson Wild (host of the World Wildlife Day Showcase), and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) (host of the World Wildlife Day Youth Art Contest).

While the celebration of WWD2024 is scheduled for March 3, 2024, the United Nations (high-level) event will occur on March 4, 2024, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, NY, USA, and will be livestreamed on United Nations WebTV.

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