UN Major Group Children and Youth

Based on lots of requests by the focal points for training and capacity building -- the UN Major Group of Children and Youth have teamed up with the Earth Charter International (based in Costa Rica) to hold a set of webinars dedicated to build your capacity as young leaders in different management tools to help your initiatives.

To kick off things, we are starting with things like fundraising (writing a grant proposal), meetings and event planning. We are also going to continue to partner with other organisations in our network to ensure that our internal capacity is strengthened.

We hope you will all sign up and enter the different classes. We also hope you will disseminate it to your networks

 

Making meetings great! – April 24^th, 14:00 GMT

http://www.wiziq.com/online-class/1780706-1-making-meetings-great

 

Writing a grant proposal – April 30^th, 14:00 GMT

http://www.wiziq.com/online-class/1780711-2-writing-a-grant-proposal

Planning an event – May 8^th, 14:00 GMT

http://www.wiziq.com/online-class/1780723-3-planning-an-event

 

Please follow these links to enter each class.

 

Instructor: Alice Longstreth Swett, Expert with more than 20 years of experience in youth leadership training.

UN Major Group Children and Youth

The Children and Youth space in sustainable development negotiations at the United Nations. 
Website: www.childrenyouth.org, Facebook: www.facebook.com/UNMGCY, Twitter: @UNMGCY

Costa Rica is leading the charge in animal rights

 

Once again, Costa Rica is leading the charge in animal rights.  Last month, government officials announced their plans to transform they country's two zoos into urban parks and allow its caged animals to roam free.  Authorities are planning to work with experts to determine which animals can be re-released into the wild. Those animals will be rehabilitated and set free when appropriate. Animals that are unable to return to the wild will be moved to national conservation areas.  This is very good news, and hopefully it will inspire other countries to do the same! 

Conservationists urge Costa Rica to maintain environmental leadership

A body representing hundreds of biologists and conservation scientists has urged the government of Costa Rica not to jeopardize its reputation as an environmental leader by allowing carve-outs from protected areas for industrial development.

Read more at http://news.mongabay.com/2013/0630-atbc-san-jose-resolution.html#lcaeFUvb0IxVwgyZ.99

Source:  Copyright 2013, Mongabay
Date:  June 30, 2013 Byline:  Rhett Butler
Image: Michael Leveille

Costa Rica becomes the 38th Signatory of the Nagoya Protocol

Montreal, 11 July 2011

– On 6 July 2011, Costa Rica became the 38th Party to the Convention on Biological Diversity to sign the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from Their Utilization. Thirty-seven Governments and the European Union have now signed the new international treaty.

Ahmed Djoghlaf, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), said: “It is fitting that while the Central American countries are actively engaged in preparing a regional meeting on the implementation of the Nagoya biodiversity compact that Costa Rica, as the host, demonstrates its leadership by becoming the 38th Party to sign the historic Nagoya Protocol.”

The list of signatories to the Protocol is available on the Convention on Biological Diversity website at: www.cbd.int/abs/nagoya-protocol/signatories/.

SPECIES IN REVIEW

STRAWBERRY POISON FROG (COSTA RICA)

This small amphibian is found throughout Central America.  It enjoys humid lowlands and forest. It lives on a specialized diet of ants and bugs.  Males are very territorial, guarding small territories.  Image: Mike Leveille 

Fund for Costa Rica

The Fund for Costa Rica is a non-profit, non-governmental organization which promotes biodiversity conservation in Costa Rica.

You can contact the Fund for Costa Rica in Costa Rica at: monotiti@racsa.co.cr or 506.224.5703.

LOOKING BACK!

The Second International Youth Symposium in Canada grew out of an earlier Symposium in 2006 developed by New Hampshire high school teacher Dan Bisaccio.  Dan has been teaching biological field research courses to students for over 25 years. He has developed field tropical ecology courses in Costa Rica, Belize, Jamaica, and Mexico and taken over 400 students to the tropics with him. 

In 2005, Dan brought 73 high school students from 9 nations together for the First Youth Symposium for Biodiversity.  This was held in Quintana Roo, Mexico. 

Next year, there are plans to have a Third Youth Symposium for Biodiversity in Auriville, India.  This event is to take place before COP11.  

Mike Leveille

COSTA RICA UNVEILS MASSIVE NEW MARINE PARK

Costa Rica announced this week the creation of a vast new marine park a few hundred miles offshore.  See http://www.costaricanewssite.com/costa-rica-unveils-massive-new-marine-park