Message by CITES Secretary-General Ivonne Higuero for World Wildlife Day 2025

For World Wildlife Day 2025, we’re exploring Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet.  

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 wild species and the ecosystems that sustain us all.  

Just as digital innovation has transformed the way we conserve wildlife, innovative financing is revolutionizing conservation efforts. Wildlife credits, conservation bonds, debt-for-nature swaps, and other solutions show that it’s not just about numbers – it’s about funding conservationists, communities, and wild species in ways that align with our Sustainable Development Goals and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework to live in peace with nature.

This year, we invite you to join the conversation. What do you think is working well in financing conservation? What is not? How can we better fund and finance wildlife conservation? Let’s explore together, connect with fellow wildlife stakeholders, and share ideas for closing the gap.  

Wildlife conservation finance is more than a tool – it is a commitment, a commitment to the planet, to its wild animals and plants, and to a shared future where nature and humanity thrive together.  

Happy World Wildlife Day!