Youth are increasingly taking the lead in demanding their governments take a stand against poaching and illegal wildlife trade.
The search is on for 20 of the world’s brightest conservationists, aged 18 to 25, to join the first ever Youth Forum for People and Wildlife.
Convened by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (Ifaw), the Youth Forum will take place in Johannesburg, South Africa in September 2016.
Delegate applications open on Sunday, October 4th and run through until December 4th 2015. Applications and more information can be found at www.ifaw.org/youthforum
The Youth Forum for People and Wildlife will be held immediately prior to the world’s biggest conservation gathering, the 17th meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) scheduled from September 24 – October 5 2016 in Johannesburg.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for passionate young conservationists committed to working with communities to find solutions that enable people to live and prosper alongside nature. They’ll be meeting at time when Cites and conservation will be top of the world news agenda – what an amazing opportunity!” said Ifaw CEO, Azzedine Downes.
A rigorous selection process will select 20 people aged between 18 and 25 from diverse backgrounds and perspectives who represent Africa and other key source, transit and consumer nations for illegal wildlife trade in Asia, Europe and the Americas.
“Participants might be scientists, grassroots campaigners, artists, game rangers, budding politicians, a filmmaker or running a community education project,” said Nancy Barr, director of the Ifaw Animal Action Programme.
“The forum will provide young leaders with the opportunity to network with like-minded individuals and hone skills that will help them fulfil their potential of saving wildlife and building ecologically-sustainable communities,” said Barr.
This forum is supported by Ifaw’s new global education program about wildlife trade, which is available in several languages for free download on Ifaw’s website: www.ifaw.org/education.
To download the delegate application package or learn more about the digital event platform go to www.ifaw.org/youthforum.