Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet

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“Our planet’s magnificent biodiversity is priceless, but conserving it comes at a cost. Each year, hundreds of billions of dollars are needed to close the global wildlife conservation finance gap; a gap we must bridge to ensure the survival of species and the ecosystems that sustain us all.”- Ivonne Higuero- Secretary-General of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). For many of us the wild is a place of unknown variables. Oftentimes we bring our biases to the wildlife due to misinformation and a sense of fear. However, the wild is a place of beauty, resilience and balance. United Nations World Wildlife Day (WWD) is celebrated every year on 3 March to celebrate wild animals and plants. Every year, we recognize the unique roles and contributions of wildlife to people and the planet. This year's theme is 'Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet'. With more than one million species at risk of extinction amid the escalating triple planetary crisis, World Wildlife Day is dedicated to celebrating and raising awareness about the world’s wild animals and plants. Wildlife species do more than inspire awe they actively shape our planet’s buoyancy. From oceans to forests, nature’s engineers play a vital role in balancing all life on the planet. World Wildlife Day also aims to raise awareness about the importance of protecting wildlife which has seen a huge fall in numbers over the past 50 years, according to a recent report from the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF). This important day provides an opportunity for individuals, communities, and organizations around the globe to come together, share knowledge, and advocate for policies and practices that protect and preserve endangered species and their habitats. Wildlife conservation is not just about protecting species it is about securing the ecosystems that sustain people, economies, and our collective well-being. In Jamaica, NEPA (National Environment and Planning Agency) is the primary government agency responsible for protecting the environment, managing natural resources, overseeing land use, and ensuring spatial planning across the island, aiming to promote sustainable development through effective urban and rural development practices; essentially acting as the guardian of Jamaica's natural and built environment. Undoubtedly, much more public education is required in order to remove the myths associated with the wild and wildlife in particular. Governments specifically have an awesome responsibility concerning wildlife conservation financing and therefore must allocate more resources in order to highlight the importance of the wild to our own existence. In the words of Steve Irwin, we don't own the planet Earth, we belong to it. And we must share it with our wildlife. Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues. waykam@yahoo.com @WayneCamo © #WorldWildlifeDay

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