‘We have to empower the young ones and inculcate love for biodiversity among them. They will be the stewards of the environment in the future,” said Dr. Theresa Mundita Lim, Asean Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) executive director.
Twenty young and passionate advocates of biodiversity conservation from the Asean member-states were chosen to be part of the inaugural 2019 Cohort of Asean Youth Biodiversity Leaders (YBL). From March 25 to 30, the young leaders convened in Bangkok, Thailand, where they were trained on conservation policy frameworks and project management and communications skills, as well as build partnerships to strengthen their conservation efforts.
The ACB, through the Biodiversity Conservation and Management of Protected Areas in Asean Project supported by the European Union and Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning, is spearheading the Asean Youth Biodiversity Programme (AYBP) in collaboration with the Global Youth Biodiversity Network Southeast Asia, the official youth constituency to the Convention on Biological Diversity.
“Under the AYBP, the YBL program provides in-depth capacity building and mentorship to youth leaders in biodiversity in the region to strengthen youth-led implementation of National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans, and to mainstream youth considerations to national biodiversity agendas,” Lim said.
The kick-off workshop in Bang Pu Nature Education Centre, including a field trip to Khao Yai National Park, Thailand, set the foundation for the 2019 Cohort, and provided the young leaders with the skills and network to bring their conservation impact to the next level.
The workshop culminated with a Public Youth Forum and closing ceremony on March 30 at Berkeley Hotel Pratunam, Bangkok, Thailand.
The YBL program will be continued for the next two years rotating in Asean member-countries.
The 2019 YBLs are: Lin Ji Liaw (Brunei Darussalam); Porchhay Taing and Channimol Ky (Cambodia); Riansyah Sigit Kurniawan and Nadia Putri Rachma Persada (Indonesia); Daophainh Inh Chanthavong and Fuevue Cherthai (Lao PDR); Kuhan Pillai Anbalakan, Mark Jun Liao, and Cheng Cheng Tan (Malaysia); Aung Than Oo and Shwe Yi Phoo (Myanmar); Mark Edison Reopta Raquino, Aubrey Jayne Padilla and Cirilo Aguadera Lagnason Jr. (Philippines); Karl Jun Qiang Png, Nathaniel Ling Wei Soon and Kittikun Saksung (Thailand); and Thong Van Pham and Yen Thi Hai Le (Vietnam).
As part of the AYBP, the search is on for the youth of Asean to be part of the first Youth Internship in Asean Heritage Parks. AHPs are the best protected areas in the Asean region with outstanding wilderness and biodiversity values.