A CONTINUING dialogue with Southeast Asian youth, engaging them through conversation in various platforms, is vital to promoting environmental conservation efforts throughout the region.
Ways on how to mainstream the involvement of young people were also discussed in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Asia's Youth Leaders Forum, an initiative introduced during the 8th Regional Conservation Forum (RCF 2024) held in September in Bangkok, Thailand. Representing the Philippines was the Laguna-based Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA).
Aligned with fostering intergenerational dialogues and collaboration, the forum's panel "emphasized the need for meaningful youth engagement, leveraging the power of storytelling and utilizing social media to amplify conservation efforts," SEARCA said in a statement.
Throughout the RCF 2024, an interactive space showcased youth-led conservation projects in Asia. It opened a platform for conversation across different countries, the exchange of ideas and opportunities for collaboration.
SEARCA's banner youth engagement initiative called Young Forces for Agricultural Innovation (#Y4AGRI) aims to nurture young people as partners and leaders for agricultural innovation. It works with various young groups, such as out-of-school youth, school children, high school students, university students and young professionals.
SEARCA Center Director Glen Gregorio said the center will collaborate with IUCN youth delegates to "explore activities aimed at increasing youth engagement in agricultural and rural development, as well as nature conservation."