This Tuesday the Principality of Monaco joins the celebration of the United Nations’ World Wildlife Day to raise awareness of the importance that biodiversity plays in the Earth’s wellbeing and the huge threat posed by its loss.
The chosen theme, set out by the United Nations General Assembly, is “Sustaining all life on earth”. In previous years the themes were more specific, such as “Big cats – predators under threat” and “The future of elephants is in our hands”. However, this year’s chosen theme underlines the importance of the holistic approach to protecting the environment.
According to the UN’s 2019 report “Nature’s Dangerous Decline ‘Unprecedented’; Species Extinction Rates ‘Accelerating’”, roughly 1 million animal and plant species are threatened with extinction. In addition, the number of all land-based species has fallen by 20% since 1900.
Monaco’s role in protecting global wildlife
Environmental conservation is a concern close to Prince Albert II’s heart. This is therefore Monaco’s opportunity to appreciate the deep importance of biodiversity on the anniversary of the signing of the Washington Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 1973.
Already well committed to the cause, Monaco will be carrying out inventories of marine and terrestrial fauna and flora while also setting up conservation programmes for those species deemed at risk. This includes protecting grouper fish, peregrine falcons, and wild insect and butterfly populations.
Valérie Davenet, Director of Environment to the Prince’s Government, welcomed the Principality’s sustained commitment to protecting biodiversity in its territory and increasing awareness of its importance. In light of Monaco’s implementation of a proactive “renaturing” policy in the urban environment, it can be expected that more efforts to preserve the biodiversity in the region will be put into action.