| On Topic
An AFC Ambassador on a project
World’s largest youth-led nature restoration project launches in UK Environmental charity Action for Conservation have today unveiled the largest youth-led nature restoration project of its kind in the world in an effort to reverse devastating ecological breakdown and create a global gold-standard for youth-led environmental action.
aking place on a 2,000-acre upland estate in the heart of the Brecon Beacons National Park in Wales, the pioneering “Penpont Project” will be run by a Youth Leadership Group of twenty 12-17 year olds from diverse backgrounds. Under their management, the project will restore habitats and ecosystems and explore innovative farming and forestry approaches to provide a healthy support system for people, biodiversity and agriculture. The Youth Leaders will work in collaboration with tenant farmers, landowners, academics and local stakeholders to create a worldleading example of how young people’s passion for conservation and the natural world can be harnessed to effect tangible change. The project launches against a worrying backdrop when it comes to the natural world. In
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10 | Farming Monthly | July 2019
the UK, 56% of species have shown a decline in numbers between 1970 and 2013. And the UN’s recent landmark report found that 1 million animal and plant species face extinction globally, threatening food security, livelihoods, economies and health. The charity behind the initiative believes a project of this scale will motivate other young people to take action to protect the natural world, as well as act as an inspirational case study for embedding youth leadership in conservation efforts elsewhere in the UK and across the world. Hendrikus van Hensbergen, CEO of Action for Conservation, which uses pioneering approaches to engage and inspire young people to become the next generation of environmental change-makers, comments; “As the largest truly youth-led nature restoration initiative on the planet, the Penpont Project will
demonstrate just how effective young people can be in driving impactful environmental efforts. Involving young people from all backgrounds in environmental decision-making from the outset is the key to unlocking a greener future for everyone. This group will create a game-changing example of how young people can work collaboratively with local stakeholders to protect the natural world. “We are at a critical juncture when it comes to our environment. A recent UN report calls for transformative change to avert an extinction crisis. Now is the time to take positive action to reverse ecological and climate breakdown and there is compelling evidence to show the value of restoring nature to halt biodiversity loss and act as a natural climate solution. With young people making their voices heard through the climate strikes, there is no better time to build on this energy with a transformative youth-led
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