1 . March 3 is World Wildlife Day, an opportunity to celebrate the wonderful diversity of plants and animals on earth. This day also marks the 50th anniversary of an international agreement between governments to ensure the trading of wild animals and plants—which is estimated to be worth billions of US dollars globally—doesn’t threaten species’ survival.

The voluntary deal, called the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora(CITES), provides varying degrees of protection to more than 37,000 species globally. The text of the convention was agreed at a meeting on March 3,1973 and it came into force in 1975. It provides a framework for 184 participants to ensure sustain-able trading of wild species for products such as food, fur and medicines.

“Without CITES, we’d lack a vital mechanism to turn off the ever-flowing and sorrowful deal of species driven by market demand,” said Abigail Entwistle at conservation charity in a press release.

The mountain gorilla is one species benefiting from a total trade ban under CITES in partner ship with this charity. Since this began, the population size has risen fourfold to more than 1,000 individuals. The pygmy hippos(侏儒河马)are also protected by CITES. They are found in the forests and swamps of West Africa, with most living in Liberia. Recently, conservationists have confirmed that pygmy hippos have a wider distribution than previously thought.

Grenadines pink rhino iguana(犀牛鬣蜥)is a striking species, which is threatened by hunting, because it still lacks CITES protection. Since 2016, the charity has been working with local and international partners to protect this species. The important point is that it works. The charity says“a CITES listing would be the logical next step”to better protect its survival.

It is reported that at present a city in Japan has a problem with graffiti(涂鸦). However, it is not the usual type of graffiti with paint from spray cans     1    (use) to write on walls. It is graffiti in sand.

Officials in the city of Tottori are asking tourists to give up     2     (write) messages and drawing pictures in the sand of its giant sand dunes (沙丘). The officials say the graffiti causes damage to the dunes,     3     destroys the pleasure others get in looking at the sand.

More than 3,300 cases of "sand graffiti"     4     (occur) at the tourist spot in the past decade. In January, two overseas tourists were ordered     5     (erase) a 25-meter-long message that read "Happy Birthday Natalie".

The Tottori Sand Dunes are famous throughout Japan     6     their natural beauty. They are the largest and longest sand dunes in the country and form part of     7     scenic coastal park on the sea of Japan coast. The biggest dune is 50 meters high.

The local government wants to improve tourists' understanding of the     8     (important) of the dunes. It will set up much     9     (many) signs in English, Chinese and Korean asking people to respect the dunes. A spokesman said, "We are concerned about whether the rules are     10     (complete) understood, and we want to continue to protect views of the beautiful sand dunes."

Over and over at the UN climate summit in Glasgow, world leaders have stressed the need     1     (limit) global warming to 1. 5 degrees Celsius. Experts have said crossing the 1. 5 ℃threshold(界限）risks     2     （release) far more severe climate change effects on people, wildlife and ecosystems. Preventing it     3     (require) almost halving global CO₂ emissions(排放) by 2030 from 2010 levels and cutting them to net-zero by 2050.

Already, the world has heated to around 1. 1℃ above pre-industrial levels. Each of the last four decades was     4     (hot) than any decade since 1850. “We never had such a global warming in only a few decades,” said climate     5     (science) Daniela Jacob at the Climate Service Center Germany.

More warming to 1. 5 ℃ and beyond will     6     (worse) such impacts. For example, heatwaves would become both more frequent and more severe. A warmer atmosphere can also hold more moisture(水分), resulting in more extreme rainfall     7     raises flood risks. It also increases evaporation, leading to more intense droughts.

“At 1. 5 ℃, there’s     8     good chance that we can keep most of the Greenland and west Antarctic ice sheet     9     collapsing,” said climate expert Michael Mann at Pennsylvania State University. That would help limit sea level rise to a few     10     (foot) by the end of the century.

9 . Sometimes a camera’s eye in the sky can cast new light on the world we live in—highlighting changes or celebrating beauty we might be unaware of on ground level. And that’s what you’ll see in the winners from the 2023 Drone (无人机) Photo Awards.

The photography competition, now in its sixth year, received nearly 14, 000 images from amateur and professional photographers from 104 countries for the nine categories of the competition. All photos were taken from above using a drone.

Here’s a look at some of those award-winning photos and honorable mentions from around the world.

“In Baja California Sur in Mexico, gray whales come to interact with people—as if they were friends(in Spanish’Amigos’),” says the photographer.

Rice mill workers start their day at the break of dawn. Some of them boil the paddy rice. Others carry it and spread it outside the rice mill to dry in the sun. To make sure that it dries properly, they rake (耙) it out, then sweep it back.

The Pallikaranai wetland is one of the few remaining wetlands in India. Every day, the photographer says that 3,500 tons of garbage are dumped on some 300 acres of this nearly 20,000-acre wetland.

Naming it The strawberry show is about to begin, the photographer says that the strawberry field from above looks like the opening of a theater curtain before a big show.

10 . The following are some unsung heroes bringing a unique viewpoint and approach to the global challenge of environmental conservation.

Greta Thunberg, a young environmental voice from Sweden, has not only caught global attention but transformed it into a powerful movement. Through her “Fridays for Future” initiative, Greta encourages students worldwide to advocate for climate action, calling for the urgency of addressing climate change. Her touching speeches at international forums, coupled with a refusal to accept inaction have made her a symbol of youth-driven environmental advocacy.

The late Nobel Peace Prize winner from Kenya left a permanent mark through her pioneering Green Belt Movement. This grassroots initiative empowered communities, particularly women, to fight against deforestation through tree planting. Maathai’s legacy lives on in the millions of trees planted across Africa, reflecting her belief that sustainable development starts at the grassroots level, with communities actively engaged in preserving their environment

Isatou Ceesay, an environmentalist from The Gambia, has emerged as a pioneer in the fight against plastic pollution. Recognizing the detrimental impact of plastic waste on local communities and ecosystems, Ceesay founded the “Women’s Initiative Gambia”. Through creative recycling initiatives, she empowers women to repurpose plastic waste, promoting economic independence within communities.

Ma Jun began his career as an investigative journalist, but has quickly risen to become an outstanding Chinese environmentalist, known for his pioneering work in water pollution control. As the founder of the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs(IPE), Ma Jun developed the China Water Pollution Map, an interactive online tool that tracks water quality data and exposes pollution sources across the country.