World Wildlife Day 2026

The National Zoological Park in New Delhi celebrated World Wildlife Day 2026 on March 3 with various activities, including a marathon and tug-of-war competition organised within the zoo premises.

The marathon was conducted under the motto “Each Step Towards Wildlife Conservation,” encouraging participants to dedicate every stride to the protection and preservation of wildlife and natural ecosystems.

Significance of World Wildlife Day
World Wildlife Day is observed annually on March 3 to celebrate the diversity of wild animals and plants. The date commemorates the adoption of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), an international agreement aimed at ensuring that global trade does not threaten the survival of wildlife species.

Theme for 2026
The theme for World Wildlife Day 2026 is “Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Conserving Health, Heritage and Livelihoods.” The theme highlights the importance of plant resources in traditional medicine, healthcare systems, biodiversity conservation, and livelihoods.

India’s Rich Biodiversity
India is among the 17 megadiverse countries in the world and accounts for about 7% of global biodiversity. The country has 15 agro-climatic regions and around 45,000 plant species, of which nearly 15,000 are medicinal plants.

Approximately 8,000 species are used in traditional Indian systems of medicine and folk remedies. Nearly 70% of India’s medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) occur in biodiversity-rich regions such as the Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, the Himalayas, and the Aravalli Range.

Documentation of Medicinal Plants
The Botanical Survey of India has identified over 5,250 plant species and documented more than 9,567 traditional folk claims related to treatments for various ailments.

India’s Conservation Efforts
India has undertaken several initiatives to protect medicinal and aromatic plants. The country supports in-situ conservation through Medicinal Plants Conservation and Development Areas (MPCDAs) and ex-situ cultivation programmes under the National Medicinal Plants Board, functioning under the Ministry of Ayush.

In-situ conservation refers to protecting plants and animals in their natural habitats. It is implemented through:

• National parks
• Biosphere reserves
• Gene sanctuaries
• Sacred groves
• On-farm management
• Community gene banks

Ex-situ conservation involves preserving plant genetic resources outside their natural habitats under controlled conditions to ensure long-term survival and possible reintroduction. Examples include:

• DNA banks
• Cryo banks
• In-vitro banks
• Field gene banks
• Seed gene banks
• Pollen banks.