Youth4Nature (Y4N) is honored to call out the world community for Biodiversity Day 2021 which is being celebrated under the slogan: "We're part of the solution”. The slogan was chosen to be a continuation of the momentum generated last year under the overarching theme, “Our solutions are in nature”, which served as a reminder that biodiversity remains the answer to several sustainable development needs. This slogan especially means a lot for us at Y4N, where we are doing a lot to make sure that Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are well understood and implemented. For instance, we have just released an Information Brief on NbS, by youth and for youth, together with the Global Youth Biodiversity Network and YOUNGO.
Our message is that, to address the climate crises, we must include nature and we must champion the work that youth are leading for both nature and for climate. As the global community is called to think big on our relationship to the natural world and biodiversity conservation, one thing is certain: despite all our technological advances we are completely dependent on healthy and vibrant ecosystems for our water, food, medicines, clothes, fuel, shelter and energy, just to name a few. From nature-based solutions to climate, health issues, food and water security, and sustainable livelihoods, biodiversity is the foundation upon which we can build back better.
No biodiversity, no life
Biological diversity resources are the pillars upon which we build life. For example, fish provide 20% of animal protein to about 3 billion people. Over 80% of the human diet is provided by plants. As many as 80% of people living in rural areas in developing countries rely on traditional plant‐based medicines for basic healthcare. To continue to access these resources, we need to ensure healthy and diverse ecosystems! This is paramount situation and linked to idea that young people is the huge generation in human kind, that’s why Youth4Nature as youth-led, international non-profit organization, we always educates, empowers, and mobilizes young people to lead on solutions for the ecological and climate crises that are ambitious, backed by science, and grounded in environmental and intergenerational justice. We act as the nexus between nature, climate, and the global youth movement, envisioning a world where communities thrive with nature across generations
But loss of biodiversity threatens all, including our health. It has been proven that biodiversity loss could expand zoonotic - diseases transmitted from animals to humans- while, on the other hand, if we keep biodiversity intact, it offers excellent tools to fight against pandemics like those caused by coronaviruses.
Photo courtesy of Kelvin Bidanya
To achieve this, our work is based on 3 main pillars; storytelling, capacity building and knowledge sharing. We launched our new storytelling campaign, ‘Your Story Our Future’ and our Story-map is now available with many stories from across the globe! We can recommend for you some stories related to biodiversity conservation like this written story by Kelvin Bidanya, submitted in December 2020, titled Accelerating Kenya's 10% Forest Cover by 2022. Kelvin’s story highlights the connections between forests - one of the largest ecosystems of biodiversity and which hold high biological diversity inside - and biodiversity, a perfect reminder for World Biodiversity Day!
Photo courtesy of Elliot Connor
In another story, from Elliot in sunny Australia, the linkages between human and nature/biodiversity are showcased. Together with his girlfriend, Elliot is trying to break down the barriers humans have built around themselves to prove their superiority over other animals. He says;
“I guess it would have to be that every person can make a difference. Human Nature is about empowering individuals to change the world- shifting perspectives, promoting collaboration, and targeting messages to the audiences that need them most. I couldn’t have done it alone, but it did take bravery to start it. So make the leap. Try something new. Because barriers were made to be broken.”
Across the Pacific in Colombia, Maria Paula Cervera shared a fascinating story titled ”We Can Heal Nature” where she shares that specifically girls and women should be emerged in helping the world to conserve our beautiful biodiversity. She says,
“Through recognition of feminine qualities and values, we can start to create a different world, and by re-learning and re-thinking the meaning of peace and cooperation in relationships, with your girlfriend, mother, sister, neighbour; to start increasing woman potential and therefore human potential. Let us stop judging one another and start focusing on the need of nature, the planet and the call of the time”.
Happy World Biodiversity Day from the Youth4Nature team! If you have a story related to biodiversity that you want the world to know about, please submit your story through www.youth4nature.org/storytelling or reach out to our storytelling team at storytelling@youth4nature.org.
This blog was written and submitted by Y4N Global Ambassador, Leonard Iyamuremye.