From restoring landscapes to preserving heritage and influencing policy, young experts and practitioners around the world are already bridging the worlds of science, traditional knowledge, policy, and practice to drive change in their landscapes and communities. From restoring degraded lands to leading innovative policy campaigns, and from preserving cultural heritage to sparking community-driven solutions, these youth are redefining the boundaries of what’s possible for transformative action. This session will also provide a platform for dialogue, inviting participants to connect, collaborate, and reimagine the role of youth in addressing the pressing challenges of our time.

Join us on 9 December at 12:00 local time (UTC+3) in the Science Pavilion at the UNCCD COP16.

The 3rd and last stop of this interactive workshop is in Saudi Arabia. The previous two were held during GLF Africa 2024 (Nairobi, September) and CBD COP16 (Cali, October). The outcomes of the three workshops, as well as learnings from a partner-led session at UNFCCC COP29 (Baku, November) will be consolidated into a short report to publish a small knowledge product and inform strategic decisions about the youth-policy interface work of GLF and YIL on the road to UNFCCC COP30 (Belem, 2025).

Join us on 10 December at 10:00 local time (UTC+3) in the Children & Youth Resilience Hub Pavilion at the UNCCD COP16.

During this event, we heard insights from landscape leaders and local innovators across Africa, showcasing successful restoration stories, pressing challenges, and bold opportunities for transformative change from recent regional consultations. 

Report launch: Rooted in restoration: Youth-led transformative change for regreening Africa
The event marked the launch of the report “Rooted in restoration: Youth-led transformative change for regreening Africa“, which highlights shared experiences, challenges, and solutions suggested by several dozen young landscape practitioners and experts across Africa who participated in a series of consultations centered on the restoration of African ecosystems.

Produced in partnership with Regreening Africa, UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, FAO, European Union Commission, CIFOR-ICRAF and the Global Landscapes Forum, and co-written by several experts in the field, this report covers gaps and solutions across policy, finance, capacity building, and communication to show how landscape restoration can be scaled for long-term impact on people and the planet.

Check out the report here.

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