The Secretariats of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the Convention on Biological Diversity, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Jackson Wild announced today that they are teaming up to organize an international film showcase highlighting wildlife as an important component of biological diversity and how its conservation and sustainable use will help reduce the risk of unprecedented extinctions from overexploitation.
The Film Showcase will be one of the global events that will anchor next year’s UN World Wildlife Day (3 March) celebrated under the theme Sustaining all life on earth. The theme encompasses all wild animal and plant species as a component of biodiversity as well as the livelihoods of people, especially those who live closest to the nature. It also underlines the importance of sustainable use of natural resources in support of the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Winners and finalist films entered into the competition will be shown throughout 2020, known as biodiversity super year around the world and at various major events.
CITES Secretary-General Ivonne Higuero said: World Wildlife Day 2020 and the film showcase will embrace the biodiversity super year’. This gives us a unique opportunity to celebrate wildlife as a component of biodiversity in its many beautiful and varied forms, raise awareness of the multitude of benefits of wildlife to people, the threats they are facing and the conservation success stories through motion pictures and story-telling. We urgently need to bend the curve of species and biodiversity loss before we reach the tipping points from which we may not recover, with dramatic consequences for all life on the planet.
The CITES Secretariat is designated by the United Nations General Assembly as the global facilitator for the celebration of the World Wildlife Day each year in collaboration with organizations in the United Nations system.
As noted by Midori Paxton, Head of Biodiversity for UNDP: Wildlife and biodiversity underpin the well-being, safety, and resilience of all societies. The World Wildlife Day 2020 film showcase will raise awareness of the importance of investing in nature in ways that help accelerate progress across the Sustainable Development Goals. The theme of World Wildlife Day is particularly timely as the UN System, countries, and all partners are preparing for the post-2020 global Biodiversity Framework to be launched in October 2020 in Kunming, China at CBD COP15.
The science tells us that a million species could go extinct if we don’t change the way we live on the planet. Storytelling reconnects people and nature. We hope this event will build the groundswell of support needed to drive the transformation and courage that our leaders need to demonstrate in 2020 to secure a prosperous future for people and nature, said Susan Gardner, Director for Ecosystems for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
“Rich biodiversity is essential to the health of our planet. The various threats facing wildlife escalate every day. As growing numbers of species edge toward extinction we must act quickly and decisively,” agreed Lisa Samford, Executive Director of Jackson Wild. We believe in the power of story to inspire awe at the wonders of our natural world and ignite the critical changes that will be required to restore and protect it.
By protecting animals and plants, we protect the ecosystems that underlie our economies, our social and cultural traditions and human well-being, said Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, Officer in Charge of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Wildlife is instrumental to global forestry, fishery and tourism livelihoods. Biodiversity in turn keeps ecosystems functional, providing the ecosystem services that allow us to survive. The conservation and sustainable use of wildlife is therefore a critical component of sustainable development, and part of a comprehensive approach to achieving poverty eradication, food security and sustainable livelihoods.
2019 United Nations Development Programme