Today marks the 9th annual World Wildlife Day and the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). I was fortunate to play a role in assisting and participating in this week’s events in Washington, D.C.
This day is important as it honors one of the most effective international agreements for wildlife conservation and calls attention to the continued need for vigilance in curbing the extinction of endangered species and ecosystem destruction.
It was my first World Wildlife Day as a representative of the United States and it felt special knowing that my country was the catalyst for the treaty (It was negotiated and signed here in Washington, D.C., hence its alternative name, the Washington Convention) and continues to play an essential role in maintaining its viability as an effective tool in making the wildlife trade sustainable and traceable across the globe.
I snapped some shots along the way. Thanks to all of my colleagues, Heidi Ruffler, Charlotte Hacker, Emily Ronis, Olivia Loyack, Rachel Jacobs, Debra Abercrombie, Thomas Leuteritz, Frank Kohn, Don Morgan, and many others for making this event a success:
Comments
Very proud of you!
A lovely recap of what was clearly an exciting day that brought together a variety of speakers and organizations, representing the broad array needed for wildlife preservation.