New York - Young artists across the globe are invited to explore the vital, yet often overlooked, connection between plants and wildlife in this year's eighth annual United Nations World Wildlife Day International Youth Art Contest.
The 2026 theme for World Wildlife Day (3 March 2026) is Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Conserving Health, Heritage, and Livelihoods, recognising the critical role of medicinal and aromatic plants in human health, biodiversity and livelihoods. The contest is hosted by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) in partnership with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Secretariat, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
"Art allows young people to imagine new futures for nature-this year we invite them to bring plants into the picture, because without plants there is no habitat, no biodiversity and no thriving wildlife or human communities," said Azzedine Downes, CEO & President of IFAW. "Through this contest, we encourage the next generation to express the dynamic connections between wildlife, plants, and people, and to envision how each of us can be a steward for conservation."
Medicinal and aromatic plants are essential to both human well‑being and ecological balance: they form the foundation of many traditional healthcare systems, contribute to modern medicine and support industries ranging from cosmetics and food to agriculture and luxury goods. Globally, approximately 50,000‑70,000 species of medicinal and aromatic plants are harvested, of which almost 1,300 are estimated to be listed in the CITES Appendices (including over 800 in Appendix II). Yet many of these species face growing threats from habitat loss, over‑harvesting, and illegal trade. Over 20% of species used globally are considered threatened with extinction on the IUCN Red List, making their conservation a global priority.
"Medicinal and aromatic plants embody one of the most tangible connections between biodiversity and human well‑being," said CITES Secretary-General Ivonne Higuero. "As we open this year's contest, we are reminded that young people already understand this truth-and that their creativity reflects the innovative, sustainable solutions needed to conserve the plants and animals we all depend on."
The contest closes on February 1, 2026 (11:59 p.m. GMT). Young artists aged 4‑18 are eligible and invited to submit an original artwork that features wildlife together with plants. Detailed guidelines and submission instructions are available at ifaw.org/wwd‑art‑contest.
Participants are encouraged to think creatively about the relationships between plants, animals and people-for example wildlife using plants for shelter, animals interacting with aromatic vegetation, or human communities harvesting medicinal and aromatic plants in ways that support both biodiversity and livelihoods.
Last year, the contest received over 3,400 entries from 140 countries and sovereign areas, showcasing the extraordinary talent and passion of young conservationists across the world.
For more details and submission guidelines, visit https://www.ifaw.org/wwd-art-contest.
How to enter:
- Artists aged 4 18 are eligible (divided into age brackets: 4 6; 7 10; 11 14; 15 18).
- Entries must be original artworks created by hand (markers, crayons, color pencils, paint).
- Entry opens [opening date] and closes [closing date] at 11:59 p.m. GMT. Artwork must be submitted online via the IFAW art page at ifaw.org/wwd art contest.
- The image must depict a species of wildlife in combination with a medicinal and/or aromatic plant, ideally showing the relationship between them (e.g., habitat, animals using plants, trade/harvest, human wildlife plant interaction).
- A judging panel including representatives from IFAW, CITES, UNDP and guest conservation artists will select 12 semi finalists, one grand prize winner and "Best in Age" winners for each bracket.
- The winners will be announced as part of the official UN WWD celebrations on 3 March 2026, and their artworks will be featured in high level events and IFAW global campaigns.
Visual assets from the 2025 contest, courtesy of IFAW, can be viewed and downloaded here: https://spaces.hightail.com/space/94F9ePoIJx
