World Wildlife Day is Sunday, March 3, and will be focused on marine species for the first time.

The theme of the day is “Life Below Water: For people and planet,” a message that aligns with Goal 14 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The Sustainable Development Goals are made up of 17 total goals meant as a call to action to protect the planet.

“Oceans regulate our climate, produce half the oxygen we breathe, provide nourishment for 3-plus billion people, and absorb 30 percent of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere and fully 90 percent of the heat from climate change," says Abdoulaye Mar Dieye, UN Assistant Secretary General and Director of UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Program. "To ensure that oceans and marine species are preserved and protected, nature-based solutions that bring together public, private and civil society partners need to be replicated and scaled-up.”

Fast Facts

• 75 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered by ocean and represents 99 percent of the living space on the planet by volume.
• The ocean contains nearly 200,000 identified species
• 40 percent of the ocean is heavily affected by pollution, depleted fisheries, loss of coastal habitats and other human activities.
• 3 billion people depend on marine and coastal biodiversity for their livelihoods
• The ocean absorbs 30 percent of carbon dioxide produced by humans

RELATED: Make Every Dive A Survey Dive for a Clean Ocean

How can you get involved?

Commit to learning about marine species and the challenges they face. Share what you learn with friends, family and children.

Hashtag #WWD2019 and spread the word across social media. You can download a poster here to show your support for marine species and World Wildlife Day. The posters are available in six official languages.

Celebrations are set to begin Friday, March 1 at a high-profile event at the UN Headquarters in New York City.