Youth involvement in environmental causes key to future-proofing biodiversity

Youth involvement in environmental causes key to future-proofing biodiversity

        Even the smallest ways and contributions in joining the cause for environment protection and biodiversity conservation goes a long way.

        That is according to the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB), as students from different universities in Japan and visitors from all around the world join the discussion during the World Expo 2025 in Osaka on how to make communities smart and sustainable for the future.

        Jerome Barradas, director for public engagement at ACB, enjoins the youth to become more involved in policy-making for the environment and to become more participative in organized programs intended for them.

        “It doesn’t need to be big. It can be a small part, but that small part is needed to make things happen for the future we want to see…You can start by knowing what to do and knowing why we want to do it. Appreciation is key, we cannot love what we cannot do,” Barradas said.

According to the ACB, the youth aged 15 – 35 years old, represent over 33 percent of the ASEAN population. It drives the centre to heighten its role in mainstreaming biodiversity for the youth sector given their energy, passion, and command of technology.

        Biodiversity may be a big word, and it is. Given how technical and scientific this subject can be, information overload can occur. But in the simplest term, biodiversity is the variety of all life on Earth.

It ensures food security, environmental health, and the sustainable development and well-being of mankind. More than 630 million people in the ASEAN region depend on biodiversity for their food, clean water, clean air, and livelihood.

One initiative for the youth that Barradas cited is the ASEAN Youth Biodiversity Programme. It seeks to increase knowledge and skills of the youth to participate actively in biodiversity decision-making processes, strengthen youth-led conservation, community-building, and heightened appreciation on the youth’s potential to contribute meaningfully.

        ACB offers a youth fellowship, a one-year training and mentorship program and an internship program based in selected Protected Areas in ASEAN.

        “We will be involving the youth in crafting such policies after all they are the future. So it’s important for them to be part of the decision making process in the policy-making process when it comes to biodiversity conservation and sustainable use,” the director adds.

        Barradas likens the efforts in biodiversity conservation into a construction. Without efforts or pillars from one sector or side, it will crumble down. Right mix of cooperation from governments, organizations, local communities, indigenous peoples, women, youth, and others are vital.

After all, we only have one planet. It’s everyone’s responsibility and we all have a part to play – in sustainability, in biodiversity, in conservation. (CH/PIA-4A)