OUR SERIES ON YOUTH LEADERS

Clara Simpson

CISV Eco-Group Leader - Fredericton, NB, CANADA

Since a very early age I have been involved in environmental conservation, cleaning streams, walking trails and city parks. For the past 6 years I have been working to preserve the biodiversity of our area by helping to re-establish a native tree species. Our group has planted over 600 bur oak trees in our city and up and down the river valley in the historic range of the tree. We contact other groups like the Scouts, Guides, Environmental Groups and get together with them to help plant trees and encourage them to get involved in the project. We have made many presentations in schools and to community groups locally, nationally and even Internationally. I have attended many International conferences and presented information on our project and I have served as Junior Board Member of the 2008 Tunza Conference for the United Nations Environmental Project in Stavanger, Norway. Our group attended the Biodiversity Matters Symposium in Ottawa in 2009 and we have worked to help prepare the Youth Accord and I am very proud to be part of the group going to Japan in October to present our Accord to World Leaders.