World Wildlife Day is observed annually on March 3 — the date the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) was signed in 1973. The 2026 theme is "Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Conserving Health, Heritage and Livelihoods," which draws attention to the intersection of biodiversity conservation, traditional knowledge, and rural livelihoods.
India is one of the world's most megadiverse nations in terms of medicinal flora. Over 15,000 medicinal plant species have been documented in India. To ensure their in-situ conservation, India has established 108 Medicinal Plants Conservation Areas (MPCAs) across the country. These sites protect wild populations of medicinal plants in their natural habitats.
The AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy) sector is closely linked to India's medicinal plant heritage, depending on these plants for traditional formulations. The sector contributes significantly to healthcare access in rural India.
On the wildlife front, two flagship conservation programmes were highlighted:
- Project Tiger: Launched in 1973, India now hosts more than 70% of the global wild tiger population. The 2022 All India Tiger Estimation placed the average number at 3,682 tigers, with 3,167 as the minimum estimate.
- Project Dolphin: Launched in 2020, this programme covers both the Ganges River Dolphin (national aquatic animal) and the Indus River Dolphin. A landmark achievement under this project was the first-ever satellite tagging of the Ganges River Dolphin, enabling researchers to study its movement patterns and habitat use.
India's commitment to biodiversity is also reflected in its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) under the Paris Agreement and its targets under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) adopted at COP15.