World Conservation Day: Call for an active role of Rwanda’s youth in nature preservation and fighting against environmental degradation

World Nature Conservation Day is an annual event that takes place on July 28. This day aims to raise awareness of the need to preserve the environment and natural resources to maintain stable and healthy earth. As human overexploitation of resources has led to unusual weather patterns, destruction of wildlife habitats, extinction of species, and loss of biodiversity, these activities have led us to an unsustainable relationship between mankind and nature. Today, there are 1.8 billion people between the ages of 10-24—they are the largest generation of youth in history. Close to 90 per cent of them live in developing countries, where they make up a large proportion of the population. The number of youth is expected to grow to 1.3 billion in 2030 and peak at nearly 1.4 billion people around 2065. Young people are connected like never before, they want and are already contributing to the resilience of their communities, proposing innovative solutions, driving social progress and inspiring political change. They are mobilizing to advance the Sustainable Development Goals to improve the lives of people and the health of our shared planet. Provided with the necessary skills and opportunities needed to reach their full potential, young people can be a driving force for supporting the development and contributing to peace and security. Rwanda’s youth comprise the biggest proportion of the Rwandan population and want to and are already driving actions to ensure the wellbeing and harmony of the Rwandan environment. Youth-led initiatives in Rwanda are taking action to preserve nature and fight against environmental degradation Rwanda is regarded as a pioneer in Africa in environmental protection, digitalisation and gender equality and its youth can draw from this governance to play a significant role in policy and on-ground actions to save nature. Educating and raising awareness of young people for nature conservation March 2022. / Photo by WDGO We Do GREEN is a youth-led environmental NGO working to involve young people and leaving no one behind in the works towards the protection of our environment, ecosystem and biodiversity which sustains and helps human life. They have been improving young people’s knowledge and understanding of emerging environmental issues and the global climate crisis by providing them with a framework for the conservation and preservation of nature. This develops their awareness, understanding and skills necessary for their participation in climate change adaptation and mitigation to overcome these challenges. Youth participation, in responding to the environmental degradation as a result of the global climate crisis, can help reorient development pathways toward sustainability. Young people are not only victims of climate change but are also valuable contributors to helping fight against the climate crisis. They are entrepreneurs and innovators, whether through education, science, technology, or art. Young people’s commitment and ambition show the massive power they possess to be able to change the world and hold decision-makers accountable as the older generation has failed, and it is the young who will pay in full with their very futures. Young people are galvanizing their voice, and now want to play a meaningful role in policy and decision-making processes Through the Public Policy Information, Monitoring and Advocacy Program supported by Norwegian Peoples Aid; We Do GREEN is contributing to the Rwandan society with a just equitable distribution of power and resources; Through increased organizational performance and effectiveness; it is helping by improving young peoples’ policy knowledge as well as access to information they need most to become active, knowledgeable and responsive citizens who can equally and significantly contribute in decision-making processes around climate change, environment and natural resources sectors in Rwanda. Through increased opportunities and abilities to connect, exchange knowledge and engage with decision-makers; young leaders want and are contributing to effective and inclusive policy processes to ensure healthy natural ecosystems that sustain the wellbeing of all life on earth. Collaborating with international students to plant trees near Bugesera International Airport in March 2020. / Photo by WDGO Rwanda’s young people are motivated to learn and boldly act. The government is now willing to include and support them around issues affecting their development, lives and livelihood. Increasing opportunities for intergenerational dialogues between young people, decision-makers, think tanks and non-state actors to anchor more nature-based solutions are of paramount importance. Looking ahead As much as awareness about environmental conservation has increased in the past few years, there is still a long way to go before positive steps show their results. In recent times, the need for conserving the environment has become more evident. The relentless human overexploitation of resources has led to an increase in natural disasters, a rise in temperatures, and a loss of species. Sadly, this is the norm in the world. That’s why youth-led organizations like We Do GREEN and multilevel partnerships that address environmental degradation and biodiversity loss are important. Youth-led organizations still need more spaces for active dialogues, capacity building, meaningful inclusion in policy and decision-making processes and easily accessible funding mechanisms to realize concrete actions to save nature and restore our shared ecosystems.

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World Conservation Day: Call for an active role of Rwanda’s youth in nature preservation and fighting against environmental degradation