Call for Submissions: Youth Led Ecosystem Restoration Projects
Help shape global ecosystem restoration! The Center for Earth Ethics and United Religions Initiative invite all youth working on ecosystem restoration projects to share their stories for an upcoming report for October’s United Nations Biodiversity Conference in Colombia.
The report, which will focus on youth and finance, will provide the conference with valuable insights on communities’ awareness of ecosystem restoration, survey restoration initiatives already underway, and address challenges and opportunities. It will include case studies, policy recommendations and resources about funding opportunities.
Projects can be related to biodiversity, climate change, forests—whatever is relevant to you and the places you care about. It can be rural or urban; in process or just a seed idea.
Participants can follow the structure outlined in CEE and URI’s Ecosystem Restoration Conversation Guide, which is now available in English, Spanish and French (Arabic coming soon!). Additional resources to help guide the process include an explanatory video (above; closed captioning available) and a simplified one page summary. You should choose one person from your group to complete the survey about the experience. We will synthesize and format your stories and data into the report.
We will feature a few projects as case studies in the report to inform policy and funding strategies related to biodiversity and ecosystem restoration at the upcoming Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) COP16 at the UN Biodiversity Conference.
The last day for survey submissions is September 15, 2024.
This call for submissions and planned report is an extension of the Values, Culture and Spirituality grassroots dialogues hosted by CEE and URI in communities around the world most affected by the impacts of climate change and environmental devastation. This pioneering initiative addresses the implementation gap in restoration efforts and facilitates community engagement and participation in the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. By bridging the divide between community needs and available support, this initiative aims to accelerate restoration efforts and amplify their impact on a global scale. We know that youth voices are essential to address this gap. When they are given a seat at the table, youth can play a critical role in integrating community values, culture and spirituality in restoration projects and advocacy.
Shannon M.D. Smith
Shannon M.D. Smith is project manager at the Center for Earth Ethics.
Alyssa Ng
Alyssa Ng is a research and policy associate at the Center for Earth Ethics.