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World Wildlife Day is celebrated every year on March 3. It reminds us of the richness of plant and animal life, as well as the challenges that threaten it. This year’s theme Financing Wildlife Conservation: Investing in People and the Planet highlights the urgent need to mobilize financial resources to halt biodiversity loss and ensure a sustainable future.

The choice of March 3 for World Wildlife Day is symbolic. On this day in 1973, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was signed. It was a key agreement for the protection of global biodiversity.

Today, the planet faces three simultaneous and interconnected crises, largely driven  by human activity: climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Unsustainable resource exploitation, poaching, habitat destruction, and climate change are severely endangering many species.

According to the 2024 Living Planet Report by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the average size of wildlife populations has declined by 73% since 1970. Meanwhile, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List now has 166,000 species, with 46,300 of them facing extinction.

At the same time, more than half of the world’s gross domestic product (GDP) depends on natural resources, making biodiversity loss an increasing threat to financial stability and livelihoods. It underscores the significance of this year’s World Wildlife Day theme Financing Wildlife Conservation: Investing in People and the Planet.

Current financial flows are insufficient for governments to meet national biodiversity targets, particularly in biodiversity hotspots located in low-to-middle-income countries. Biodiversity hotspots are places on Earth that are both biologically rich — and deeply threatened.

According to an estimate, USD 824 billion per year is needed to protect biodiversity, while current global investments are just USD 143 billion annually, far below the required amount. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called for at least USD 500 billion per year in additional financing for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including nature protection.

“We have a responsibility to unlock the power and agility of the finance sector and mainstream nature-positive considerations in the spheres of investment. Wildlife conservation finance is about conserving plant and animal species in the wild, and contributing to the conservation of our planet’s biodiversity that sustains all ecosystems and communities worldwide,” said CITES Secretary-General Ivonne Higuero.

Innovative financing mechanisms

As the gap between required and available funding widens, attention is turning to innovative financial mechanisms. The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework has set ambitious targets to halt biodiversity loss by 2030, including the mobilization of at least USD 200 billion annually and the elimination or reform of environmentally harmful subsidies.

Programs such as Debt-for-Nature Swaps allow governments to redirect portions of their national debt toward conservation efforts. Wildlife Conservation Bonds encourage private sector investments in endangered species protection, while payments for ecosystem services (PES) enable landowners and local communities to generate income through sustainable management of natural resources.

World Wildlife Day 2025 will serve as a platform for knowledge exchange, financial innovation, and strengthening cooperation between governments, the private sector, and civil society.

In addition to the United Nations’ main event in the Palais des Nations in Geneva on March 3, the celebration will feature online activities, including the Jackson Wild Film Festival and the International Youth Art Contest organized by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).

Residents of the town of Lopare, Bosnia and Herzegovina, have held a protest to voice their opposition to plans to grant a concession for opening a lithium mine on Mount Majevica.

The message from the protest is “No to lithium mining,” the Municipality of Lopare said in a statement.

At the invitation of environmentalists, citizens’ associations, and the municipal administration, the protest brought together a large number of residents and members of ecological associations from Lopare and neighboring towns and municipalities.

This was not the first protest against lithium mining in Lopare. A similar gathering was organized about a year ago.

Investors have shown interest in extracting lithium at several locations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including Bijeljina, Brčko, Lopare, Ugljevik, and Zvornik.

“The people are more important than the interests of multinational companies.”

Rado Savić, head of the Lopare municipality, said the gathering was organized to send a clear message against plans to grant a concession for extracting ore and opening a mine.

“We have sent an inquiry to the Government of the Republic of Srpska twice regarding the concession request, and we’ve received verbal confirmation that we will get an answer soon,” said Savić.

He added that a series of activities would be undertaken to convince the government that the lithium mining rights should not be granted.

“The people who live here are more important than the interests of multinational companies,” said Savić.

Snežana Jagodić Vujić, who leads the environmental association Eko-put, announced that a regional gathering against ore extraction on Mount Majevica and the wider region would be organized in Bijeljina at the end of March.

“We don’t want a mine on fertile, populated land.”

“This area should develop in a sustainable way, conserving our natural resources,” Jagodić Vujić stressed.

Andrijana Pekić, chairwoman of a citizens’ association dedicated to protecting Mount Majevica, said the purpose of the gathering was to send a loud and clear message that a lithium mine is not wanted on fertile, populated land.

Five reasons to oppose the mine

The Eko-put association from Bijeljina has asked the Ministry of Mining and Energy not to grant a concession for opening a lithium mine in Lopare, citing several key reasons:

1. The proximity to populated areas: the potential location of the mine is in the immediate vicinity of the town of Lopare, which has approximately 3,000 inhabitants.
2. Environmental risks: the Gnjica and Janja rivers, which belong to the Sava and Drina river basins, flow through the exploration area.
3. Hazardous extraction processes: the technology required for lithium extraction, especially the use of sulfuric acid, carries serious risks to public health, nature, and the environment
4. Incompatibility with the local community’s development goals: the municipality of Lopare is strategically oriented towards tourism and agriculture, and existing projects in these sectors conflict with the opening of a lithium mine.
5. Unprecedented in Europe: it is important to highlight that there is currently no active lithium mine, nor a lithium mine under construction, that is located near a populated area.

The Croatian government has handed over 19 contracts for investments in water supply and sewerage in more than 20 municipalities. The government also said it invested EUR 4.4 billion in water and sewerage infrastructure from 2016 to 2024.

The contracts for water supply infrastructure, worth more than EUR 1 billion, envisage investments in Petrinja, Šibenik, Koprivnica, Zagreb, Sinj, Kutina, Valpovo, Belišće, Rovinj, Mursko Središće, Trilj, Otok, Dicmo, Zaprešić, Pitomača, Krk, Rugvica, Dugo Selo, Pakrac, Đakovo and Novska, as well as the area of ​​the Mirna river and the City of Nin.

During a ceremonial handover of the contracts, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković noted that the projects would reduce losses in the public supply system and increase the number of connections to the public water supply and sewerage systems.

Increasing the number of connections to the water supply and sewerage systems

According to the general manager of Croatia’s public water utility Hrvatske Vode, Zoran Đuroković, these projects will further upgrade the water infrastructure.

In his words, the investments will increase the number of connections to the public water supply and sewerage networks as well as new wastewater treatment plants, improving the living standards of Croatian citizens.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković noted that from 2016 to 2024, the government invested EUR 4.4 billion in the water infrastructure from various sources.

Funding was secured from different sources

He clarified that the government combined funds from the budget, the Competitiveness and Cohesion Operational Program, and the National Recovery and Resilience Plan to enable the financing of these projects.

“With all these funds, almost 3,000 kilometers of public water supply network will be built or reconstructed, benefiting 900,000 people. Almost 5,000 kilometers of public sewerage will be reconstructed, giving 2.5 million people in Croatia better access to the wastewater treatment system,” Plenković stressed.

These investments also include the construction of 367 kilometers of flood defense facilities and the revitalization of 36 watercourses. This will improve flood protection for 240,000 citizens.

In its third edition, LUCE Awards continues to celebrate the outstanding contributions and achievements of women leading the way in the Green Transition. The public voting is now live for three outstanding finalists in the Legacy Women category, including Branislava Jovičić, the Founder and Editor of Balkan Green Energy News.

The Lights on Women initiative of the Florence School of Regulation published the shortlist in the Legacy Women category in its third LUCE Awards. The contest champions female professionals advancing the green transition. The organizers said that in a world increasingly focused on achieving ambitious energy, climate, and sustainability goals, the current edition reaffirms the critical role women play in shaping a more sustainable and inclusive future.

LUCE Awards, supported by Edison and Eurogas, is open to candidates worldwide.

The LUCE Awards ceremony will be held in Florence, Italy on May 15 to announce the results of the public voting, which is open until April 3. Online registration and voting only take half a minute.

Female professionals with outstanding contributions and achievements are candidates for LUCE Award

Branislava Jovičić, Founder and Editor of Balkan Green Energy News, is one of shortlisted candidates for the Legacy Women Award, the category of LUCE Awards that honors a senior female professional with outstanding contributions and achievements through her platform and voice.

Jovičić is also the director of the Belgrade Energy Forum, an annual conference organized by Balkan Green Energy News, which gathers industry leaders, experts, and representatives of institutions in Southeast Europe and beyond and co-founder of WISE Serbia (Women of Serbia in Sustainable Energy).

Also among the finalists for the Legacy Women Award is Amparo Soler Martínez, Senior Supervisor at the Nuclear Department of Nfq Advisory, Solutions, Outsourcing, and President of the Women in Nuclear Global network.

The third shortlisted candidate is Boyana Achovski, CEO and Managing Partner at Achovski and TIB Advisory Group. Until recently, she served as the Secretary General of Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE). Achovski is also a board member of the Women in Renewables Alliance, which was founded in 2018.

You can also vote for on of the following candidates: Marta Luca, General Manager of Snam Corporate Foundation, focusing on energy, educational & food poverty social impact programs, Rita Mota, Deputy Director in Competition and Energy Policies Department at EDP, Roberta Boscolo, Climate and Energy Lead at the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Anne Bercio, Trade Officer, Trade and Economic Section at the EU Delegation to Ukraine, Lina Tsaltampasi from Greek Association of Female Entrepreneurs, WEnCoop and Tatiana Vedeneva, President at Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Development from Kyrgyzstan.

The Florence School of Regulation, founded in 2004, is a center of excellence for independent discussion and knowledge exchange on European regulation and policy. It delivers academic research, training, and policy events in the fields of energy, climate, transportation, and water and waste.

The European Commission scheduled for March 25 the declaration of the first batch of strategic projects under the European Union’s Critical Raw Materials Act. Rio Tinto has submitted its controversial Jadar project, for a lithium mine and processing plant in Serbia.

In addition, the administration in Brussels said it would extend the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism to certain downstream steel and aluminum products, also within the package of measures to decarbonize and safeguard metals production.

Presenting the new Action Plan on Steel and Metals, the European Commission’s Executive Vice President Stéphane Séjourné, in charge of prosperity and industrial strategy, vowed to secure the supply of essential raw materials. He revealed that on March 25 he would identify the first group of strategic projects facilitated through the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA).

The legislation was much criticized before it was adopted a year ago. One of the candidates is Rio Tinto’s disputed Jadar project in Serbia. The mining giant is planning underground exploitation of lithium and the construction of a processing facility. The area, near the city of Loznica in the country’s west, is populated and dependent on agriculture.

The CRMA legislation enables strategic partnerships centered on projects for raw materials in third countries, such as Serbia

The controversy over the investment has prompted some of the most massive and widespread protests, held in several waves since 2021. Balkan Green Energy News has a chronological overview of the key events in the development of the Jadar project since 2001, when Rio Tinto arrived in Serbia.

Serbia and the EU signed a memorandum of understanding in Belgrade last year for a strategic partnership in sustainable raw materials, battery value chains and electric vehicles.

Séjourné announced that he would present “dozens of critical raw materials projects.” However, he highlighted only aluminum, copper, nickel and “many steel alloying elements,” without mentioning lithium. The administration in Brussels said it would streamline permitting and simplify access to public funding for strategic projects for raw materials, at home and in third countries.

EU to help metal exports competitiveness

The European Union outlined the measures in the face of tariffs imposed by the United States and much higher energy prices than across the Atlantic and in China. The changes would include incentives for decarbonization and quotas for domestic green steel in public procurement and for recycling.

One of the main tools is the Carbon Border Adjustment System or CBAM, which is undergoing a review. The EU has increased its ambition for reform, according to Séjourné.

The steel and metals industry in the EU is facing a serious crisis and trade tensions have not helped matters, Séjourné acknowledged

“By the end of the year, we will be presenting measures to reinforce CBAM’s action. These will operate in three directions: exports, anti-circumvention measures, and the extension of the products concerned. Our producers cannot be the most virtuous and the most penalized on the international market. Finally, we’ll also be looking at modifying the rules of origin to prevent foreign steel from undergoing a simple minor transformation in Europe, and then being sold as a European product,” the top industrial policy official stated.

The European Commission stressed that it would table the first legislative proposal amending CBAM by the end of the year to extend its scope to certain steel and aluminum-intensive downstream products.

Incentives to use nuclear power in hydrogen production

The steel and metals industry in the EU is facing a serious crisis, between an explosion in electricity prices and global overcapacity, Séjourné acknowledged, adding that “trade tensions have not helped matters.” The action plan involves spurring massive investments in hydrogen.

Support is underway for low-carbon hydrogen, “particularly in conjunction with nuclear power,” the European Commission’s vice president said. The EU has until now refrained from subsidizing nuclear energy projects. However, it is preparing a package for the development of the technology for small modular reactors (SMRs) and scientific research.

Electrolyzers powered by nuclear plants produce so-called pink hydrogen. Another low-carbon version is blue hydrogen, made directly from methane – fossil gas, but with the carbon dioxide emissions captured and (permanently) stored. Green hydrogen is the one from water electrolyzed using renewable electricity.

International Day of Forests is celebrated worldwide on March 21. The initiative to establish it was approved in 2012 by the United Nations General Assembly. The goal is to raise awareness about the importance of forest conservation for the future of our planet. This year, special emphasis is placed on their role in ensuring food security.

This year’s theme for the International Day of Forests is Forests and Food, as more than five billion people rely on forest products for nutrition, medicinal needs, and livelihoods.

Forest ecosystems are a rich source of nuts, fruits, seeds, roots, leaves, honey, wild meat, and insects, providing essential nutrients. Wild meat is an important source of protein for indigenous peoples and rural communities, especially in tropical areas. More than 3,200 species of wild animals are used for food.

Beyond food, forests are an essential source of energy, providing fuelwood for cooking. It is a common energy source in rural households, enabling meal preparation for nearly two billion people.

Forests contribute to agriculture by providing habitats for pollinators, helping maintain soil health, retaining water, supplying food and shade for livestock, regulating temperature, and acting as natural windbreaks for crops.

Forests contribute to food security and diversify income sources during crises

They are also crucial for food security and diversifying essential income sources when crop yields fail or during armed conflicts, keeping communities alive when regular food sources become unavailable. In crisis situations, forests serve as an economic and nutritional safety net, providing up to 20% of household income in rural areas.

Forest watersheds supply fresh water to over 85% of the world’s largest cities.

Forests are not only a source of food and energy but also a key factor in combating climate change. They absorb carbon dioxide, produce oxygen, and preserve natural resources. Their protection and sustainable management are essential for the wellbeing of the planet and future generations.

Despite their immense importance, these ecosystems are under threat. Unfortunately, deforestation and degradation worldwide endanger their survival. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), approximately 10 million hectares of forest are lost annually due to deforestation, while around 70 million hectares are affected by fires.

The United Nations urges countries to take action at local, national, and international levels to protect and restore forests. Activities such as tree planting, art exhibitions, photo contests, and educational campaigns help raise awareness of their importance. Individuals can also contribute through simple actions such as recycling, reducing paper and plastic consumption, and planting trees and plants in their communities.