African Youth Unite for Biodiversity! – Vusi Tshabalala

By -
Since 1993, governments, policymakers, and expert organizations have negotiated strategic global agreements for the sustainable and equitable use of biodiversity, aiming to mitigate species loss and safeguard ecosystems. However, it was only at the 10th Conference of Parties to the Convention for Biological Diversity held in 2010 in Nagoya, Japan that youth took a seat at the table thanks to the formation of the Global Youth Biodiversity Network.Description: <--break->
Young people need a role in conservation
As the officially recognized group for youth in the negotiations under the convention, the Global Youth Biodiversity Network is instrumental in sensitizing decision-makers on the value of youth-led activities for conservation. As of August 2018, the Global Youth Biodiversity Network represents 115 member organizations, a total of 342,000 members from 107 countries worldwide.
Two years ago South Africa hosted the Global Youth Biodiversity Network conference which was officially opened and lead by the late Minister Dr Edna Molewa for African countries, where 13 countries manage to send their young leaders to come and engage in the issues of biodiversity. 
For many it was the first time to engage on policies and discuss their countries National Biodiversity Strategic Action Plan (NBSAP), Aichi targets, What is the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Conference of Parties (COP), Strategic Development Goal (SDGs) and many more. This was new territory for the young leaders in conservation, but very important therefore they committed to their own understanding of the content. Capacity building workshops are a critical tenet of the Global Youth Biodiversity Network’s mandate to increase general awareness and mobilize youth voices for conservation and sustainable development. After the 2016 conference the young people joined the Global Network and established national chapters in Madagascar, Morocco, Kenya, South Africa and Zimbabwe. There is also an African sub regional committee that has been formed where all these countries can meet to share ideas and projects.
Ahead of the 14th Conference of Parties to the Convention in Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt this year, 50 young Africans from 17 countries attended an intensive five-day workshop from the 28thof October – 3rdof November 2018 hosted by African Wildlife Foundationin Nairobi, Kenya. Apart from the Global Youth Biodiversity Network’s steering committee and country chapters, the Kruger 2 Canyons Biosphere was also represented by one of its own young leaders: Vusi Tshabalala.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Kukula Traditional Health Practitioners Association Bio-Cultural Community Protocols Revision Workshop & Peer-to-Peer Learning Exchange

By -
Image
Community mapping Natural Justice’s Cath Traynor together with Mina Buthelezi (SANParks BSP/K2C Data Collector & Field Assistant), and Prof. Wayne Twine (Wits University) facilitated a 3-day workshop with the Kukula Traditional Health Practitioners Association to revise their bio-cultural community protocol (BCP). The Kukula’s original BCP was finalized in 2010, and the past 6 years have seen a growth in Kukula membership, a change in their priorities plus the introduction by the South African Government of several new laws and policies which will impact the Kukula. The objectives of the workshop were to (i) finalize the BCP revision process, (ii) focused discussions concerning leveraging the revised BCP, (iii) furthering engagement around medicinal plant issues with protected areas managers, and (iv) peer-to-peer learning exchange with Ndindani Community Nursery in Phalaborwa . During the first session of the workshop the Kukula agreed on a BCP revision process, this wa...
Read more

K2C to start a blogging page

By -
Image
From the 1st Dec 2013, K2C will start a regular blog posting on this page.   Various potential bloggers will be approached by K2C to submit regular blogs on their life in the K2C, their challenges and opportunities.   If you would like to contribute and be a regular blogger on the K2C blog page, please contact info@kruger2canyons.org.   If you would like to be able to follow the regular blogs, please fill in your email address in the email block below "Follow by Email"
Read more

KNP ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CAPACITY BUILDING FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORS

By -
Image
By Vulani Mabunda On the 19 th of July 2019 19x EMS from different host institutions, i.e.   Sefapane, Nourish and Letaba Ranch attended an Environmental Education workshop at Letaba Elephant Hall facilitated by KNP’s Kirsty Reedman and her team. Environmental Education (EE) connects us to the world around us, teaching about both natural built environments, EE raises awareness of issues impacting the environment upon which we depend, as well as actions we can take to improve and sustain it. The specific outcome s from the Workshop was to empower participants to be able to: Design and implement an environmental Education Programme Design and implement a children’s environmental education programme Design and implement an environmental education programme for visitors to a conservation area Through this workshop, EM's acquired a lot of knowledge and experience in terms of Environmental Education:  EM's learned how to integ...
Read more