The theme of World Wildlife Day 2021, “Forests and Livelihoods: Protecting the Planet and Its People,” aimed to highlight the central role of forests, forest species, and ecosystem services in sustaining the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people worldwide, particularly Indigenous and local communities. These communities have historical ties to forested areas or areas adjacent to forests. The day thus highlights the achievement of several United NationsSustainable Development Goals, includingthe fight against poverty, the fight againstclimate change,the conservation of the oceans, andthe preservation of life on land.
Approximately 200 to 350 million people worldwide live in or near forested areas. They rely on the various services provided by forest ecosystems and forest species to sustain their livelihoods and meet their most basic needs, including food, shelter, energy, and medicine.
Forests, forest species, and the livelihoods that depend on them are also affected by the many global crises we face, including climate change, biodiversity loss, and the health, social, and economic consequences of theCOVID-19 pandemic.
World Day draws attention to forest and wildlife management practices that take into account both human well-being and long-term conservation. It also helps highlight traditional practices that contribute to building a more sustainable relationship with these vital natural systems.