This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). In the spirit of World Wildlife Day and to emphasize the urgent need to protect nature against biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution, the International Geneva website invites the CITES Secretariat and UNDP to select their Photo of the Week. Join us each week until December as we unveil their chosen image from Magnum's powerful photographic collection, alongside their ongoing efforts to safeguard our planet.
 
Investing in wildlife is not just about conserving species. It is about safeguarding the natural systems that support life on Earth. World Wildlife Day celebrates all wild plants and animals, including spider monkeys. These incredible creatures act as vital ecosystem engineers. By pruning trees and dispersing seeds through their movements and digestion in the upper canopy, spider monkeys help forests regenerate and flourish. The picture above was photographed by Magnum photographer Yael Martinez in Yolosa, Bolivia, in 2022.