On this International Day of Forests, we highlight the critical need for meaningful youth participation, particularly from Indigenous, local and Afro-descendant communities. Youth play a crucial role in protecting the world’s forests by offering fresh perspectives, innovative solutions, and a long-term commitment to conservation. Their creativity and urgency are key in addressing the complex challenges facing forests, such as deforestation and climate change.
Youth-driven advocacy is pushing for policy change, with young people demanding their inclusion in decision-making processes that directly impact the future of forests. Through education and advocacy, they are not only raising awareness about the importance of forests but also helping bridge the gap between scientific research, ancestral knowledge and public action. In short, young people are active agents of change today (and always have been), playing an essential role in ensuring the protection and preservation of forests for future generations.
With our colleagues at Conexion, the Mesoamerican Alliance of Peoples and Forests (AMPB) in Mesoamerica and the Youth Initiative for Land in Africa (YILAA), we recently asked four young people important questions to better understand their perspectives on forest protection and their roles in the fight against environmental degradation. More specifically they’ve provided key reflections on the three major COP meetings from 2024 and their expectation for this year’s upcoming pivotal COP30.
Secure land tenure empowers communities to protect forests, fight deforestation, and combat climate change. Click below to learn more!
Watch Innocent Antoine Houedji's video
Image provided by ACOFOP/AMPB