WWF Calls for Stronger Partnerships for Conservation Sustainability at Wildlife Day Commemoration

Posted on 13 March 2023

WWF has called on Government and other actors to deliberately come up with strategies and tactics to build strong partnerships with CSOs, Donor Agencies and Communities adjacent to protected areas to guarantee impact and sustainability of the conservation efforts.

Speaking at the Commemoration event of the International Wildlife Day in Tororo, the Country Director of WWF in Uganda, Simon Peter Weredwong also called on Parliament to enact policies that will guarantee the thriving of nature and people.

The celebration which was presided over by the Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities included awarding of personalities that have contributed greatly to wildlife conservation and education institutions that excelled in the International Wildlife Day quiz both at Tertiary and secondary school levels.

Celebrated under the theme; 'Partnerships for wildlife conservation', the Minister emphasized that conservation is a collective responsibility.

“As you know wildlife conservation is a shared responsibility. We have been working with different partners and we shall continue to do so.”

On the same day, the world celebrated 50 years of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), which was born on March 3, 1973.

“World Wildlife Day 2023 acknowledges the significant contribution CITES has made to sustainability, wildlife, and biodiversity conservation and how this contribution has been enhanced by the bridge-building and partnership work done within the CITES framework,” stated WWF’s Simon Peter Weredwong.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities also recognized how CITES has partnered and collaborated with other conventions, UN agencies, and other organizations in the service of the broader UN goals, such as the Sustainable Development Goals and the Post-2020 Framework on Biodiversity (which has just been adopted at CBD CoP15 in Montreal in December).

WWF CD (left) interacting with the Chairman of Uganda Tourism Board (C) and the Executive Director of Uganda Tourism Board (on black)