World’s largest youth-led nature restoration project launches in UK

Taking 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 stake holders to create aworld-leading 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 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 project here in the UK. We hope the Penpont Project acts as a beacon of hope and inspiration for like-minded initiatives the world over.” The Youth Leadership Group is made up of volunteers from a diverse range of backgrounds who all share a passion for the environment and conservation and have participated in Action for Conservation’s Youth Ambassador Programme. 16 year old Willow, from Cardiff, who is one of the inaugural members of the Youth Leadership Group, comments. “I’m so excited to be part of the Penpont Project. It is a unique opportunity to transform a landscape through hands-on restoration efforts and inspire others to take action themselves. The natural world is in real trouble, in Wales and beyond, and we need to work together to find creative ways to turn this situation around. By working with the tenant farmers, landowners and conservationists I really hope that we can demonstrate the value of putting young people at the heart of positive environmental change and inspire other projects to take a similar approach.” Davina Hogg, owner of the Penpont Estate, where the restoration project is being launched, adds: “We’ve long prioritised sustainability when it comes to the running of Penpont David Christensen Estate, but over recent years we’ve been looking to engage with environmental efforts on a larger scale. Working with Action for Conservation and enabling the Youth Leadership Group to work with our tenant farmers to restore habitats and ecosystems is a fantastic opportunity to not only safeguard the future of this beautiful land, but also to create a shining example of how conservation efforts could and should be run.” Gareth Davies, a tenant farmer whose family have farmed the estate for three generations, added: ‘This is an inspiring project and we are looking forward to working together with these passionate young people to show how nature restoration can go hand in hand with sustainable farming practices, to make sure we maintain healthy soils, clean water and vital wildlife species long into the future.” The project was officially unveiled today. It will see the youth leaders undertake ecological surveys of an initial 322 acre site alongside pupils from neighbouring schools, before they go on to collaborate with local stakeholders, leading academics and conservationists to design and implement restoration plans for the area, design outreach and education activities, evaluate financial models, and develop a programme of communications to keep the public up to date on progress. The project timeline is open ended with all efforts geared towards solutions that are low input and high impact, relying on natural processes to drive change and secure long-term, sustainable outcomes. With time they hope to extend the approach to adjacent land, creating larger areas of habitat and ensuring connectivity. Action for Conservation and the Youth Leadership Group also hope the area will act as an educational resource for young people from across the region in the long-term; providing them with a place to experience nature, see the impact of restoration efforts up close, and inspire them to lead initiatives in their own communities. You can learn more about Action for Conservation and the Penpont Project at: https://www.actionforconservation.org/penpont