Hello, dear colleagues and friends,
I’m Azzedine Downes, CEO and President of IFAW --- the International Fund for Animal Welfare.
We’re thrilled to once again partner with the CITES Secretariat and UN Development Programme to connect art and wildlife conservation through the 2026 World Wildlife Day International Youth Art Contest.
Whenever I visit places where IFAW works, I am reminded each and every time how wildlife, people, and nature are so deeply interconnected.
We must remember that healthy habitats don’t just support animals—they support people too.
And this year’s World Wildlife Day theme, “Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Conserving Health, Heritage and Livelihoods,” is a stark reminder of that connection.
So many of the plants that humanity relies on for medicine grow in the same forests, grasslands, and wetlands that wildlife depends on as well. So when those plants and their habitats are protected, in essence, both communities and wildlife are better able to thrive.
But when those habitats are degraded or even lost—through deforestation, climate change, or unsustainable use—wildlife suffers, and people, as well as their livelihoods, suffer as well. It is all connected.
Our environment is a reflection of our health---a reminder of our shared heritage---and a purveyor of our livelihoods. It must be respected and cherished.
And at IFAW, we work to do just that.
On this World Wildlife Day, let us come together and remember that conserving nature---all plants and wildlife---is not just about protecting species—it’s about safeguarding the web of life that sustains us all on this shared planet.