# data[].attributes.body
World Wildlife Day is celebrated annually on the 3rd of March in support of animals and plants across the world.

World Wildlife Day is an important event to raise awareness of the extraordinary diversity of wildlife and marine life that we have today. With increasing numbers of endangered and extinct species, it’s extremely important to educate people on how we can help conserve the planet to continue to provide for future generations!

The theme  of World Wildlife Day 2021 is ‘Forests and Livelihoods: Sustaining People and Planet’.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
We are extremely fortunate to count on the presence of an endless diversity of wild animals, plants, and other lifeforms that together make up life on our planet.

Humans around the world benefit every single day from wildlife. In many ways, our history is the story of our species' interaction with, and adaptation to, the diverse lifeforms present in our close vicinity. Since time immemorial, we have used wild plants and animals for out most basic needs: from the air we breathe, to the food we eat, to the materials we use for shelter and comfort.

The human well-being and prosperity that is derived from the direct exploitation of wildlife, habitats and ecosystems should not be to the detriment of the building blocks of a rich and diverse biosphere. The Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES) was agreed in 1973 to avoid this by regulating international trade in wildlife and ensure that this trade is legal, sustainable and traceable.

More and more, however, the unsustainable exploitation of wild fauna and flora and their ecosystems is threatening their survival. Every single piece of the puzzle of life is essential and losing even the smallest of these pieces leaves us, and the entire planet, poorer. When human actions endanger hundreds of thousands of species, as they are doing today, it is the entire biosphere - of which we too are a part - that is threatened.

We now face the immense challenge of living in harmony with nature so that we can fulfill our own needs without neglecting those of the many lifeforms with which we share this planet on sea, land and air.

The inclusion of endangered species in the CITES Appendices, the conservation efforts undertaken by our Parties, and the added endeavors of partners in other Conventions or organizations working on biodiversity and development helps to counteract the loss of biodiversity on the planet.

However, transformative changes are needed as we find ourselves at a critical turning point both for our species and for the entire biosphere. Now more than ever we must come together in a joint effort to sustain all life on Earth.

We are proud to do our part in advocating for a responsible and sustainable use of wildlife to conserve our world's biodiversity. CITES is proud to host this year's World Wildlife Day with the theme " Sustaining all life on Earth", and we invite all of the planet's citizens to join us in the celebration of one of the milestones of this "Biodiversity Super Year".

test

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Official website of UN World Wildlife Day

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
We are extremely fortunate to count on the presence of an endless diversity of wild animals, plants, and other lifeforms that together make up life on our planet. Humans around the world benefit every single day from wildlife. In many ways, our history is the story of our species' interaction with, and adaptation to, the diverse lifeforms present in our close vicinity.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This is a dynamic schools and garden website designed and managed by Dúlra Éireann that will assist teachers, students and gardeners in creating a sustainable e

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
As Autumn begins so do all the leaf crafts! Leaf puppets are such a simple and fun activity for toddlers and preschoolers. After reading the 'Leaf Man' by Lois Ehlert we made a collection of leaves and then set to work on making our own leaf man (well about 20 leaf men, monsters and owls!)

This week we have joined the virtual book club for kids. You can find more details about it here. This weeks book is one of my favourites for this time of year 'Leaf Man' by Lois Ehlert. Leaf man is a story about a man made of leaves travelling where ever the wind blows. Its is full of amazing illustrations made from actual leaves. Inspired by the leaf creatures in the book we made our own leaf puppets.

We used chalk pens to draw on the leaves which leave brilliant bright marks and are really easy to use (and easy to clean off!).

How to make leaf puppets

After going on a walk to collect our leaves we got started on our leaf puppets. Using chalk pens we drew on the leaves. Daisy made marks on her leaves using different coloured pens.

Harry made patterns, drawings and faces on his leaves. He was really focused and knew exactly what he wanted to turn each leaf into.

I had fun drawing on a few of the leaves too!

Once the chalk pens had dried we put the leaves through the laminator and cut them out. We used to tape to stick a craft stick onto each leaf to turn them into puppets and then added googly eyes to a few of our leaves.

We made a collection of our own leaf men,

a few leaf monsters

and some cute little owls.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
As Autumn begins so do all the leaf crafts! Leaf puppets are such a simple and fun activity for toddlers and preschoolers. After reading the 'Leaf Man' by Lois Ehlert we made a collection of leaves and then set to work on making our own leaf man (well about 20 leaf men, monsters and owls!)

# data[].attributes.body
Whether you have Duplo blocks or Lego blocks, this Lego activity is a must try! With basic bricks, you can build many forest animals and birds! The sky really is the limit here, and you can come up with more ideas of your own!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How To Draw A Palm Leaf  - #stayhome and draw #withme

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The dawn chorus of birds singing, monkeys howling, frogs calling and insects buzzing. The crystal clear waterfalls that are perfect for a refreshing afternoon swim. Fireflies illuminating trees at night.
The beauty and tranquility of forests all over the world—from the tropics to the tundra—inspire all of us. We know forests are home to most of the world’s life on land. More than 3 billion people—75% of all people outside urban areas—live within 1 kilometer of a forest, too. And more than one-third of the world’s population has a close dependence on forests and forest products.
But threats to the world’s forests are growing. Expanding agriculture, due to an increased population and shifts in diet, is responsible for most of the world’s deforestation. Illegal and unsustainable logging, usually resulting from the demand for cheap wood and paper, is responsible for most of the degradation of the world’s forests—the largest threat to the world’s forests. In degraded forests, small trees, bushes and plants often are severely damaged or dead; rivers are polluted; slopes are eroded; and more.
The threats are so severe that we are losing huge swathes of forests at an alarming rate. The Amazon, the planet’s largest rain forest, lost approximately 17% of its forest cover in the last half century due to human activity—mainly clearing trees to create new or larger farms and ranches.
WWF is working to address the threats to forests: By 2030, we must conserve the world’s forests to sustain nature’s diversity, benefit our climate and support human well-being.
Most of WWF’s work is being done in tropical rain forests, which are the most biologically diverse and complex forests on Earth—forests in the Amazon, the Congo Basin, the Greater Mekong and other regions near the equator. But it also is taking place in temperate regions, such as the Russian Far East and the United States.

# data[].attributes.headline
Sesame Street: Where Does Paper Come From

# data[].attributes.subject
Sesame Street: Where Does Paper Come From

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Sesame Street: Where Does Paper Come From?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Populations of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians have, on average, dropped by 60 percent in just 40 years.

The concept of 'the wild' does not exist like it did before. Now the species that live in the wild are often in danger of extinction. There are believed to be just 400 Asian lions left in the wild in India, just 80 eastern bongos in the forests of Kenya and dangerously low populations of thousands of other species worldwide.

The driving force behind these shrinking animal numbers is us- human beings. Overpopulation of the human race and all that comes with it- from farming to mining to pollution- means animals no longer have access to the natural habitats that existed previously. Rainforests are being torn down for palm oil plantations, oceans are awash with dangerous plastics and carbon emissions are causing irreversible damage to the climate and as a result, animal's homes.

The time to take action is now.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The concept of 'the wild' does not exist like it did before. Now the species that live in the wild are often in danger of extinction. There are believed to be just 400 Asian lions left in the wild in India, just 80 eastern bongos in the forests of Kenya and dangerously low populations of thousands of other species worldwide.

# data[].attributes.body
Design a poster for World Wildlife Day 2021

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Guided Tree Grounding Meditation for Kids

# data[].attributes.body
Get a rubbing of tree bark by covering the bark with a piece of paper and using a crayon to make your rubbing.

# data[].attributes.body
Read the book 'The Lorax' by Dr Seuss or watch the movie. The Lorax is a spokesperson who speaks for the trees, think about ways that you could be like the Lorax.

# data[].attributes.body
This book tells the true story of aThe True Story of how one tree-loving woman changed a city forever.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Check out what's happening at the Zoo on our webcams!

# data[].attributes.body
A story about a girl who lived in a tree to save the forest.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Turn fallen leaves into beautiful works of art with this autumn craft for kids!
We began by going on a hike to collect fallen leaves. Then, we set out to paint and create with our haul. Read on to see all the ways that we made art with our leaves.

Leaf Painting Activities for Kids

Have kids simply paint the leaves, turning each one into a unique canvas.

Have kids paint the leaves, and then press them to paper to make leaf prints.

Make intricate designs and patterns on the leaves using a fine-point brush and paint.

(Full tutorial coming soon!)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Turn fallen leaves into beautiful works of art with this autumn craft for kids ! We began by going on a hike to collect fallen leaves. Then, we set out to paint and create with our haul. Read on to see all the ways that we made art with our leaves.

# data[].attributes.body
Write a riddle about a jungle animal. Think about where the animal lives, how it moves, what it eats and its size, colour etc. What makes this animal special? Read the riddle out and see if others can guess the animal.

# data[].attributes.body
Recreate the sights and sounds of a forest or jungle using dance, voice and percussion.

# data[].attributes.body
Explore a woodland or forest with a notepad and/or camera, and try to identify as many different species as possible.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
This is a 'living fossil', the only surviving member of a group of plants that date back to the age of dinosaurs.

In 1994, David Noble, an Australian National Park ranger in the Blue Mountains, discovered some unusual trees - so unusual, they were previously known only from fossils. Only 100 survive in the wild today and they are under threat from a fungal disease, but they grow well in parks and gardens. A percentage of the price of each nursery plant sold goes to support conservation projects.

Fun Fact

The wollemi pine is not a true pine. It is related to the monkey puzzle tree, an ancient family of conifers.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This is a 'living fossil', the only surviving member of a group of plants that date back to the age of dinosaurs. In 1994, David Noble, an Australian National Park ranger in the Blue Mountains, discovered some unusual trees - so unusual, they were previously known only from fossils.

# data[].attributes.body
Carry out a ‘sensory walk’ in a local woodland. Bring someone with you and close your eyes to experience the woodland through the other senses, guided by your partner. Explore the textures, smells, sounds and feel of the environment. Discuss afterwards to see if you noticed anything that you had not before.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
2:31

Professor Robin Chazdon explains why protecting our forests is necessary for protecting biodiversity, climate and watersheds, drawing on personal experience to show how we are all connected to our forests.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
2:31 Professor Robin Chazdon explains why protecting our forests is necessary for protecting biodiversity, climate and watersheds, drawing on personal experience to show how we are all connected to our forests.

# data[].attributes.body
Write a letter to an influential person who can help save our planet. This could be a world leader, public figure, politician, or anyone else who you believe could make a difference.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
After centuries of clearing forest find out from Sir David Attenborough why we could soon have more Forest than any of us have ever known.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Our Planet | Forests | FULL EPISODE | Netflix