Columbia MPA Environmental Science and Policy Program students were excited to attend the celebration of World Wildlife Day on March 3, 2016 at the UN Headquarters here in New York. The event “celebrates and raises awareness of the world’s wild animals and plants,” allowing students to learn more about the pressures wildlife face and to connect with global leaders involved in wildlife issues.
Program student Arnaud Goessens is currently working as a consultant at the UN, and coordinated student attendance. The day’s events included panel discussions, speakers and the International Elephant Film Awards. This year’s theme was “The Future of Wildlife is In Our Hands.”
CITES, or the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, is a multilateral treaty to ensure that the trade in specimens of wild animals and plants between nations does not threaten the survival of these species. Today, 181 member nations have signed on to CITES, and it is regarded by CITES Secretary-General John E. Scanlon as “the most successful of all international environment-related agreements.”
