This Simple yet Powerful Conversation with SEA Youth May Just Save the Planet

A recent call to action has emphasized the need for open and ongoing dialogue with the youth of Southeast Asia as a vital component in the region’s environmental conservation efforts. This was the underlying message at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Asia’s Youth Leaders Forum, which was launched in conjunction with the 8th Regional Conservation Forum (RCF 2024) held in Bangkok, Thailand in September. Representing the Philippines at the forum was the Laguna-based Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca), which highlighted the importance of engaging with young people through various means and across multiple platforms.

This past month, some of the most prominent voices in environmental conservation came together at the RCF 2024 to share their insights, ideas, and success stories. As part of the discussions, ways in which the involvement of young people could be further mainstreamed in conservation efforts were explored, with a focus on intergenerational dialogues and collaboration.

The forum’s panel on meaningful youth engagement was particularly notable, as it emphasized the power of storytelling and the critical role that social media can play in amplifying conservation efforts. Furthermore, an interactive space was set up throughout the RCF 2024, showcasing a range of innovative projects led by young people from across Asia. This created a dynamic platform for conversation, idea-sharing, and collaboration across regional boundaries.

Searca has been a forerunner in youth engagement initiatives, with its flagship Young Forces for Agricultural Innovation (#Y4AGRI) program focusing on empowering young people as leaders and partners for agricultural innovation. Working with diverse groups of young individuals, from out-of-school youth and school children to high school and university students and young professionals, the center seeks to bring about meaningful positive change through their collective efforts.

According to Searca Center Director Glen Gregorio, the center is committed to exploring opportunities for collaboration with IUCN youth delegates that could enhance youth engagement in not only environmental conservation but also in agricultural and rural development. This is seen as critical for the sustainable development of the region and its future-proofing against the most pressing environmental challenges of our time.