20 - 21 April 2024, Myanmar
Empowering Myanmar Youth:
A National Dialogue
on Biodiversity
Just A Few Words
About The Event
Myanmar is a globally recognized biodiversity hotspot due to its diverse ecosystems that support many species unique to Southeast Asia. But like many other landscapes, Myanmar has faced significant biodiversity loss and deforestation driven by agricultural expansion, mining and other infrastructure development. The 2021 military coup accelerated these threats on conservation programs and illegal activities, such as heavy rare earth mining in Kachin and illegal logging in Tanintharyi, on a massive scale, posing urgent and significant threats on the country’s ecosystem and biodiversity.
Conservation efforts in Myanmar have traditionally been top-down, often neglecting the voices and perspectives of young people and vulnerable groups. Recent global conservation progress, as highlighted by the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, offers a hope and direction for youth leadership in biodiversity. In the face of Myanmar’s complex political and social landscape following the coup, young people are rising to the challenge, showcasing their leadership and determination to create a better environment.
Where
Zoom
When
20 -21 April, 2024
Empowering youth to lead biodiversity conservation in Myanmar is not just an option; it’s an absolute necessity. Young people bring fresh perspectives, innovative ideas, and boundless enthusiasm to the table invaluable assets in tackling the complex challenges of conservation. The recent rise of youth-led organizations post-coup positions them perfectly to connect with local communities whose cultural practices often intertwine with critical wildlife habitats. They possess a deep understanding of their communities’ needs and challenges, bridging the gap between conservation initiatives and the people who depend on these ecosystems for their livelihoods.
Have A Look At The
Event Schedule
Day 1
Understanding the Challenges
20 April, 2024
7:00 PM MMT
Welcome and Introduction
Speaker: Zaw Win Naing
Executive Director
Youth Navigator
7:15 PM MMT
Keynote Address: Global Youth Biodiversity Movement
Speaker: Christian
Global Coordinator
GYBN
7:30 PM MMT
Panel Discussions: Conservation Challenges and Urgency in Myanmar
Moderator : Htet Htet
Technical Supervisor at Youth Navigator
Co-Chair at GYBN Myanmar
8:15 PM MMT
Break
8:50 PM MMT
Open Dialogue: Our Shared Concerns
Facilitator: Ban Ban
Earth Programme Lead
Youth Navigator
Day 2
Ways Forward
21, April, 2024
7:00 PM MMT
Day 1 Recap & Day 2 Introduction
Moderator: Ko Naing
Earth Programme Co-lead
Youth Navigator
7:15 PM MMT
Brainstorming : Youth-led Conservation Solutions
Facilitators
8:00 PM MMT
Shaping Our Future
Facilitator: Htet Htet
Technical Supervisor at Youth Navigator
Co-Chair at GYBN Myanmar
Summary Note Taker: Ko Thant
Operation Head
Youth Navigator
8:20 PM MMT
Break
8:50 PM MMT
Closing Remarks & Next Steps
Speaker: Htet Htet
Technical Supervisor at Youth Navigator
Co-Chair at GYBN Myanmar
These are our Panelists
Christian Schwarzer
Co-Founder
Global Biodiversity Youth Network
Saw Frankie Abreu
Director and Founder
Tenasserim River and Indigenous People's Network (TRIPNET)
Dr. Naw May Lay Thant
Secretary & Deputy CEO
Myanmar Biodiversity Fund
Hla Naing
Independent Conservation Consultant
Event Organizers
GYBN Myanmar
The Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN) is an international network of youth organizations and individuals from all over the world whose common goal is to prevent the loss of biodiversity. GYBN aims to represent the voice of global youth in the negotiations under the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), raise awareness among young people of the values of biodiversity, and connects individuals and youth organizations in order to build a global coalition to halt the loss of biodiversity. Established in 2022 as an official GYBN chapter, GYBN Myanmar focuses on raising awareness about biodiversity conservation’s importance in Myanmar. We also aim to build young people’s capacity in conservation skills and advocacy, contributing to national and global efforts to conserve the country’s biodiversity and ecosystem. GYBN Myanmar has successfully collaborated with YN on a basic environmental concept training series.
Youth Navigator
Established in August 2021, Youth Navigator (YN) is a young network of passionate and
dedicated young individuals in Kachin State, northern Myanmar. Following the 2021 military
coup, numerous university and high school students, including our founding members, did not continue their education under the military regime. Recognizing the limited educational opportunities and resources available in remote ethnic areas like Kachin State, especially after the coup, we founded YN to offer alternative pathways for young people’s education and empowerment.
On 12th June , 2023, we launched the Earth Programme, focusing on environmental education and awareness, participatory action research and empowering young people to lead conservation initiatives to address pressing environmental challenges and the biodiversity crisis in our region. Since launching the Earth Program, we have successfully delivered basic environmental training courses and assessments, laying the foundation for our upcoming initiatives in biodiversity conservation and youth empowerment.