The Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN) is inviting young people to share their initiatives and actions aimed at biodiversity conservation. The initiative is being launched ahead of the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP17), which will be held in Yerevan from October 19 to 30, 2026.
In its announcement, GYBN notes that young people are already playing an important role in various areas of biodiversity conservation. They participate in citizen science programmes and field research, organise awareness-raising activities, protect small ecosystems, contribute to pollinator conservation, raise environmental concerns, and call on governments to take faster and more effective action.
As part of the initiative, young people are invited to share stories about actions they have taken, regardless of their scale. It does not matter whether the initiative was carried out in a schoolyard, in a community or across a wider area, in person or online.
The collected stories will be used in a public communications campaign, including on social media and websites, as well as in a report that will be presented to governments, partners and other stakeholders. Examples of young people’s initiatives are also expected to be presented during COP17 through meetings, the Youth Pavilion and other events.
Who Can Participate?
Young people who are taking action to conserve biodiversity can submit their stories, regardless of the type or scale of their initiative.
To submit your story: Youth Contributions
GYBN is an international network of youth organisations and individuals whose goal is to halt biodiversity loss and conserve the Earth’s natural resources. The organisation is the officially recognised platform for youth engagement under the Convention on Biological Diversity.
October 08, 2026 at 13:02