The GYBN

Join the Global Youth Biodiversity Network -
apply now for your ticket to Berlin!

The idea behind GYBN is to create a global youth network that unites young people and youth organizations from all parts of the world and all walks of life through one common goal: To halt the loss of Biodiversity as soon as possible!GYBN's mission is to provide a global platform to get in touch with each other and have the opportunity to join forces for the protection of biological diversity on our planet. GYBN also aims to become the international coordination platform for youth participation in the CBD and is committed to bring the opinions and positions of youth into the negotiations. It is officially supported by the CBD Secretariat.

From August 21st to 27th 2012 NAJU (German Youth Association for the Protection of Nature) will host the GYBN Kick-Off Conference in Berlin and bring together 35 young environmentalists from all parts of the
world to establish the global youth biodiversity network.

Biodiversity loss doesn't stop at national borders! This is your chance to get connected with like-minded young people and youth organizations from all over the world. Be a part of the solution and help to halt the loss of Biodiversity.
Application
The number of participants is strictly limited and will be selected according to the application.
Please fill in the questionnaire on:www.naju.de/english/gybn
Deadline
10th of May 2012
Fee50,00 EURO (Board and lodging will be provided. Up to 75 % of the travel costs can be reimbursed after handing in the original tickets. )
Contact
Juliane Rosin, Juliane.Rosin@NAJU.de
NAJU im NABU
Charitéstr. 3
10117 Berlin, Germany
Tel.: +49 (0)30 284 984 1924
Fax: + 49 (0)30 284 984 2900www.NAJU.de/english/gybn

The gybn kick-off conference will be funded by the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (Bundesamt für Naturschutz, BfN).

Logo gybn kick-off conference: Gigih Septianto, Daniel Henkel

NATIONAL GREEN SCHOOLS CONFERENCE- DENVER, CO.

Here we are at the Green Schools Conference in Colorado

We were able to visit the Denver Zoo before the conference.

The official Conference starts this evening.

Posted by the Grade 6, 7, 8 students of St-Laurent Academy- Ottawa, Canada

  

3rd module of our biodiversity mentorship program- Ottawa, CANADA

Our 3rd module of our biodiversity mentorship program took place today. Here were some of the guests for the Saturday program on Politics and Biodiversity.
Jessica Walsh Moreau- Biodiversity Youth Leader- Delegate at Nagoya for COP10
David Chernushenko - City of Ottawa councillor
Yasir Naqvi - Liberal MPP for Ottawa Centre, Liberal MPP for Ottawa Centre, President of the Provincial Liberal Party and former Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Education
Anil Naidoo - Ottawa Centre NDP candidate
Kevin O'Donnell - Ottawa Centre Green candidate
Growing Up Organic staff person to be named
Tom Marcantonio - Food Production Co-Ordinator at Woodpark CommunIty Association, local organic farmer/consultant
Judi Varga-Toth - Founder and Owner of Credible Edibles

45 students from 12 schools have participated in the program to date with 10 students completing all the modules today.  Twenty of our ASLA Grade 6-8 students are presently involved.  Mr. L.

3rd module of the ASLA Biodiversity Mentorship Program- CANADA

Japan's Environment Minister Ryu Matsumoto and Youth Delegate Chafic at COP10

Our 3rd module of our ASLA biodiversity mentorship program is coming together! Here are some of our guests for this Saturday's program on Politics and Biodiversity.
Jessica Walsh Moreau- Biodiversity Youth Leader- Delegate at Nagoya for COP10
Chafic Bouchakra- Biodiversity Youth Leader- Delegate at Nagoya for COP10
David Chernushenko - City of Ottawa councillor
Clive Doucet- City of Ottawa councillor, Ottawa mayoral candidate
Yasir Naqvi - Liberal MPP for Ottawa Centre, Liberal MPP for Ottawa Centre, President of the Provincial Liberal Party and former Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Education
Anil Naidoo - Ottawa Centre NDP candidate
Kevin O'Donnell - Ottawa Centre Green candidate
Growing Up Organic staff person to be named
Tom Marcantonio - Food Production Co-Ordinator at Woodpark CommunIty Association, local organic farmer/consultant
Judi Varga-Toth - Founder and Owner of Credible Edibles

EARTH DAY CANADA ECOMENTORS AND BIODIVERSITYMATTERS- OTTAWA

It was an honour to work with Earth Day Canada today and present our International Youth Accord.  Chafic and Jessica presented their international work in Nagoya, Japan during COP10.  We made an invitation for youth to take part in the many events leading up to COP11.   

A QUICK REVIEW OF OUR BIODIVERSITYMATTERS SUCCESSES!

• Fundraising $100,000 to build an Outdoor Classroom and develop an environmental area at the Macoun Marsh, used by Canadian school children from across the Ottawa region. Over 1300 species have been described here.

• Promoting our prototype project across Canada. In 2008, science teachers from across our country visited our study site, and were encouraged to participate in similar projects with their students.

• Connecting with Daniel Bisaccio from Brown University (Through the CBD) who developed the First Youth Symposium for Biodiversity in Mexico in 2005.  Youth from 9 countries attended that year.  

• Creating Biodiversitymatters and hosting the 2nd International Youth Symposium in Ottawa. We invited projects from 10 countries to participate- Albania, Barbados, Bolivia, Cameroon, Canada, Honduras, India, Japan, Mexico, and USA.  Over $70,000 was fundraised for the Symposium, and youth involved promoted it nationally and internationally through a variety of media, including television, radio, newspapers and the Internet. In 2008, five Canadian youths attended TUNZA in Norway to promote our work and invite delegates to attend the Symposium.

 • Our Symposium team developed a wide array of events, workshops, team building activities, special guests from all levels of government including the CBD.

• Creating the Youth Accord for Biodiversity, which has been translated into 25 languages and has over 5000 signatures of support from 83 countries. The Accord was written by youth from Canada, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Uganda and USA.  The Accord was presented at major venues. One youth was flown to Belgium by the European Union for a Green Week event to promote our work. The Accord can also be successfully be adapted to any level of government – Our New Brunswick members helped to create the New Brunswick Youth Biodiversity Accord which has received 15 endorsements from youth and citizen-based groups from around the province.

• Attending and participating in COP10, where our Accord was presented, and where one of our members was invited to the High Level segments and had the opportunity to share our work with Ministers/ leaders. We communicated COP10 issues and produced an Accord poster to help raise awareness. Our Accord can be used in schools to develop policy and programs by youth. 8 members (+2 Chaperons) of our team were accredited and financed by us to participate at COP10, connecting to other international groups, such as the new organization GYBO (Global Youth and Biodiversity Organisation).  The International Youth Statement on Biodiversity developed in Nagoya was in-part developed out of our original Youth Accord described above. 

• Developing a communication blog for international youth at Biodiversitymatters.org.  Other recent groups we are connected with include youth from Australia, Panama, Spain, Tanzania, and Uganda.

• Helping to develop a pre-COP11 event in Auroville India for 2012, named the Third Youth Symposium for Biodiversity. 

•We also continue to develop local events for youth here in Ottawa, Canada.  We are planning an event on May 22 (on International Biodiversity Day)

Biodiversitymatters goals

Our Biodiversitymatters goals are three-fold- 1. Local biodiversity-related youth gatherings and public education, 2. Networking with international youth groups through our blog, to share success stories and discuss issues, 3. To assist teams in the development of international youth events as is planned in India in 2012. 

International Meeting of Youth next Saturday Morning (January 22)

Join our meeting with skype.  We are planning a monthly environmental youth meeting on Saturday mornings from 10:00 to 12:00am Eastern (Ottawa, CANADA time or -5 above).  If you would like to be part of the meeting please contact us (Only youth aged 16 to 25 please).  Our first meeting will be on January 22nd and will explore how we can develop and work with the theme of forests this year.  If interested please contact me at lmleveille@rogers.com  Mike Leveille

United Nations Decade on Biodiversity!!!!!!!

The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the period from 2011 to 2020 as the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity in its Resolution 65/161:

Decides, following the invitation of the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, to declare 2011-2020 the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity, with a view to contributing to the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity for the period 2011-2020, requests the Secretary-General, in this regard, in consultation with Member States, to lead the coordination of the activities of the Decade on behalf of the United Nations system, with the support of the secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the secretariats of other biodiversity-related conventions and relevant United Nations funds, programmes and agencies, and invites Member States in a position to do so to contribute, on a voluntary basis, to the funding of the activities of the Decade;

VERY GOOD NEWS INDEED!

LOOKING BACK AT 2010!

Our International Youth Accord was our main focus this year as was getting as many youth as possible to COP10 in Nagoya.  Here is a look back at some of our favourite moments!

Green Week in Belguim

Presenting Jane Goodall with our Accord

Working with the CBD

Presenting the Accord to David Suzuki

Building our website

Working with the Durrell Wildlife Trust in the UK

Presenting at COP10 in October

Presenting the Accord to Harrision Ford at COP10

What adventures will 2011 bring?

FINAL TALLY OF SIGNATURES FOR OUR YOUTH ACCORD 2010

1. Argentina- 3
2. Australia- 17

3. Austria- 3

4. Bahamas- 2
5. Bangladesh- 2

6. Barbados- 2

7. Belize- 2
8. Belgium- 3

9. Bermuda- 2

10. Bolivia- 1

11. Botswana- 1

12. Brazil- 14
13. Bulgaria- 8
14.Cameroon- 4
15. Canada- 1199 

16. Cayman Islands- 1
17. China- 20

18. Columbia- 2

19. Cuba- 1

20. Cyprus- 1

21. Denmark- 1

22. Dominican Republic- 1

23. Egypt- 2
24. England/ UK- 14
25. "Europe"- 4

26. Republic of the Fiji Islands- 1

27. France- 4
28. Germany- 11

29. Greece- 1

30. Guyana- 1

31. Honduras- 2

32. Hungary- 4

33. India- 15
34. Indonesia- 15
35. Ireland- 2

36. Israel- 2

37. Italy- 5

38. Iraq- 1
39. Japan- 30

40. Jamaica- 1

41. Kenya- 4

42. Korea- 2
43. Lebanon- 5
44. Macau- 1

45. Malaysia- 2
46. Malawi- 1
47. Mexico- 2667

48. Mongolia- 2
49. Namibia- 1
50. Nepal- 3

51. Netherlands- 1

52. New Zealand- 3
53. Nigeria- 5
54. Panama- 2
55. Pakistan- 1

56. Paraguay- 1

57. Peru- 1

58. Philippians- 2

59. Portugal- 4

60. Rwanda- 1

61. Senegal- 2

62. Serbia- 3

63. Singapore- 2

64. Slovakia- 2
65. South Africa- 4

66. Spain- 88

67. Sudan- 1

68. Sri Lanka-2

69. St. Lucia- 1

70. Sweden- 2

71. Switzerland- 1
72. Taiwan- 4
73. Tanzania- 75

74. Thailand- 1

75. Tunisia- 1
76. Uganda- 54

77. Ukraine- 1
78. United Arab Emirates- 3
79. United States- 106

80. Vietnam- 3

81. Venezuela- 1

82. Zambia- 1

83. Zimbabwe- 1
NAMES WITH NO COUNTRY/ REGION LISTED- 74
(Duplicates not counted here)

GRAND TOTAL: 4727 signatures (includes hard copies from Spain, Canada, Mexico, Tanzania, and Japan)

Youth Presentations

A couple weeks ago, Emily Malone and Christina Vietinghoff of the CISV-Eco Group made a presentation at the "Collaborating for Biodiversity" Conference held in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Members of the audience included government and NGOs. They talked about their experience in Japan as well as the outcomes of COP 10. They also discussed the NB Youth Accord on Biodiversity. Although there were some tough audience questions, many participants of the conference listed this presentation as one of the highlights of the conference.

Canadian School celebrates their Involvement in the International Year for Biodiversity

St-Laurent Academy School in Ottawa, Canada held a special assembly today to mark the ending of a successful year in biodiversity awareness and engaging youth with the Youth Accord for Biodiversity. Much of our work is with the Macoun Marsh, a unique wetland in the middle of the city.  Over 1300 species have been recorded here over the past 8 years. 

RECEPTION TO MARK THE CLOSING OF THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR FOR BIODIVERSITY

International Civil Aviation Organization building- Montreal
By Mike Leveille (Director of Biodiversitymatters)
It was an honour to attend this important reception this evening.  There were many important political representatives from both Canada and Japan.  Here are some photos from the event:

Dr. Ahmed Djoghlaf (Executive Secretary of the Convention)

Jean Lemire- Biologist, adventurer and film director and producer.

In 2006 he completed a 15-month voyage to the Antarctic on the Sedna IV, a unique 51 metre full-rigged yacht with high-precision scientific and filming equipment. The voyage was documented in the film The Last Continent.

What a tree!

International Civil Aviation Organization building

VISION OF BIODIVERSITYMATTERS

 

The vision and targets of our work include:

·         Continue to engage youth of all ages to increase their awareness and ability to act on environmental issues

·         Continue to fundraise to maintain and develop our core environmental sites and projects

·         We will continue to promote and support our Accord locally, nationally, and internationally

·         Develop our communication network and blog (biodiversitymatters.org) to share knowledge and successes between youth groups, especially in regions not yet reached

·         Celebrate our environmental heroes on our blog.  

·         Continue to record and share species data with local and national institutions and each other

·         We commit ourselves to applying our knowledge, expertise and resources to sustain and promote biodiversity.

·         We also commit to measuring the success of our joint efforts and we will report back to the CBD on an annual basis.

·         Assist in the planning of the Third International Youth Symposium on Biodiversity planned for Auroville, India in 2012.

COP 10 PRESENTATION AT THE CANADIAN MUSEUM OF NATURE

Youth from Biodiversitymatters presented the Youth Accord and COP 10 at the Canadian Museum of Nature today.  Signatures were also collected. 

LOOKING BACK AT COP 10

Here are some photos looking back at Biodiversitymatters youth at COP10 in Japan this past October.  We are presenting the Youth Accord on Biodiversity with almost 5000 signatures from 83 countries.  From Pat and Jessica Walsh

One fifth of animal species are under the threat of extinction.

A recent report published at the UN Convention on Biological Diversity meeting in Nagoya, Japan claims that one fifth of animal species are under the threat of extinction.  The study, considered the most comprehensive of its kind, tracked 25,000 species of mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and fishes using data from the Red List of Threatened Species.

COP 10 PRESENTATION

COP10 youth delegate Jessica Walsh-Moreau presented Nagoya events at St-Laurent Academy Elementary and Junior High School today in Ottawa, Canada.  The audience was made up of Grades 6, 7, and 8 students. 

UP-COMING YOUTH DISPLAY TABLE ON COP10

Our Biodiversitymatters youth team will be at the Canadian Museum of Nature on Sunday, November 28 to discuss COP10, YOUTH, and the ACCORD.