Libra,Ry G CH-1196 Gland ,^I,P+

YOUTH IN ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION An lnternational Survey Editor Jan J. Voordouw L Prepared by the International Youth Federation in collaboration with UNEP and IUCN as a contribution to International Youth year Education, Training and Awareness Series No. 2 1987 Libra,ry g CH-1196 Gland ,^i,p+ I 0ot0 The views of the authors expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the participating organizations. Published by IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, U'K' This publication by IYF/IUCN/UNEP forms part of the Education, Training and Awareness Series in the IUCN Conservation Library. Y s@ (c) 1987. International Youth Federation/International union for conservation of Nature and Natural Resources/United Nations Environment Programme Reproduction of this publication for educational and other non-commercial purposes is auihorized without prior permission from the copyright holdefls. written Reproduction for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without the prior permission of the copyright holders. ISBN 2-88032-919- I International Citation: IYF/IUCN/UNEP (1987). Youth in Environmental Action: An survey. Editor J. Voordouw. IUCN Gland, Switzerland and cambridge, u.K' Cover: Patrick Virolle/James Butler public about wildlife Cover photo: An open-air exhibition in Kenya to inform the issues. Wildlife Qlubs of Kenya/WWF Available from IYF, Klostermollevej 48 A, 8660 Skanderborg, Denmark and IUCN Publications Services, 2l9c Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CB3 ODL, U'K' or Avenue du Mont-Blanc, I196 Gland, Switzerland' f- t [- r- t TABLE OF CONTENTS [' t PRBFACES r' Dr. Swaminatham President of the IUCN I Shiraz Wajih Chairman of the IYF Jan Voordouw Editor I YOUTH ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS Youth in Environmental Action Nature of Youth Organizations 2 YOUTH INVOLVEMENT AND COMMUNITY ACTION Roles Activities Excursions Practical Conservation Tasks Camps Courses Projects and Surveys Indoor Meetings Publications Youth Organizations as Pressure Groups Youth Environmental Organizations and the World Conservation Strategy 3. YOUTH ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVITIES IN ASIA AND THE PACIFIC Introduction India - Action at the Grass Roots Thailand - the Young Conservationists Fiji - The Holism of Environmental Action Indonesia - The Benefits of Cooperation Malaysia - Environmental Action by Citizen Groups Sri Lanka - Victory over Pollution 4. YOUTH ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVITIES IN EUROPE Introduction The first International Youth Leader Training Courses: The Lueneberger Heide Courses (FRG) Boat Actions for the Wadden Sea and the Baltic Sea Malta - Hunting and Trapping of Birds Youth Environmental Activities in European Socialist Countries The Project on Acid Rain Flltbiologerna - Sweden { t_ TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued) 5. YOUTH ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVITIES IN LATIN AMERICA Introduction The Latin American Federation of Young Environmentalists (FLAJA) Mexico - Course on Tropical Forests Follow-up Work of FLAJA Developments in South America Case Studies from Central America Environmental Education for Latin American Youth Leaders 6 YOUTH ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVITIES IN AFRICA Introduction Some National Youth Organizations in East Africa The Chongololo and Conservation Clubs of Zambia Youth and the Conservation of Nature in Cameroon The Arab Office of Youth and Environment - Egypt Tree Planting and Forest Conservation - Sierra Leone FOR 7 INTEGRATION: THE INTERNATIONAL YOUTH FEDERATION ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AND CONSERVATION (IYF) Introduction History Structure Working Programme Inter-regional Cooperation Youth Exchange APPENDICES I. GUIDELINES FOR ORGANIZERS OF YOUTH LEADER TRAINING COURSES 2. SOME ADDRESSES OF YOUTH GROUPS 3. GLOSSARY OF ABBREVIATIONS FOREWORD BY THE PRESIDENT OF IUCN Since the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment in 1972 we have all become familiar with the need to think holistically about the environment. We are aware that on our fragile planet we must link conservation, peace and the elimination of poverty. We now must combine the age-old conservation ethics with modern interdisciplinary scientific and technological advances. We know that the different sectors of government must work together, and work with the non-governmental organizations, with industry and with the consumers. But holism in space is perhaps only one side of the coin. We need to think much more about the future and above all, I believe, about young people who will be a part of that future. We have not listened enough to these young people, now more than half the world's population. We too often dismiss what they have to say as ignorant or arrogant, naive or irrelevant. Many of us do not see their contributions as having a bearing on our adult conservation efforts. All this is changing though. With a certain sense of history, it gives me particular pleasure to introduce this modest volume. It is a simply written story of what young people are actually doing. Not all of them to be sure, not most of them, because young people, like so much of nature, remain unseen by adults preoccupied with a materialistic world. The young people who are directly involved in environmental activities probably number in the millions worldwide. But despite the valiant efforts of the International Youth Federation (IYF), the task of involving and learning from young people haS hardly begun. We are not aware of the enormous resource we have in our young people, and how relatively easy it would be to realize that potential. There are almost 800 million children in school according to Unesco. It would not be difficult to organize at least a part of this huge group in schools into Conservation for Development clubs where young people might not only learn in theory but also carry out vital conservation tasks. IUCN will stand firmly behind IYF and young people in promoting human fulfillment on a sustainable basis. We made this commitment 30 years ago in Salzburg when rve were responsible for the birth of IYF. We recognize that the years since then have not been easy. No childhood, certainly no adolescent period is easy for a parent. We must now recommit ourselves to help again at a time when the threat to mankind, which is even more critical than it has ever been beforeo requires the greatest cooperation among generations. M.S. Swaminathan President, IUCN -5- PREFACE With just a cursory glance, one will realize that similar environmental problems assail the Jifi.tr"t geographit r-egions of the world, whether as a result of over- or under-development' The methodJ of tackling the situation vary from one region to another, from country to country, and from community to community. These differences arise primarily because of prevaiiing socio-economic conditions, but a lack of integration of effort and of communication among organizations and people also contribute. and action' is a A separate youth movement for nature, environmentally sound development togical resuli of the fact that all people are young once. Environmental youth movements can be found in almost every puti ol ttt" world. The reasons for the existence of such likes and "self-governing" movements, iun for and by young people, are numerous' Youth needs to *ork in a setting which offers u iigft degree of integration of learning, thinking, interacting, teamwork and action. of course, experience is appreciated in youth organizations, new people' but only as long as it is accessible and available to everybody, understandable for youth groups and offers tangible benefits to the group. This is the most important reason for find to establish more or less strictly kept age-limits. It is also why many "adult" organizations it difficult to understand youth organiiations, which they consider to be big groups of "people' with divided and continuously changing leadership". groups show that Studies evaluating the effectiveness of self-governing environmental youth youth these groups appear to have extremely high outputs compared with many other piogruir*.i, esp.ciutty when the size of ih" U.rOg.t is taken into account. Training activities ,,r.i u, developing leadership capabilities; tea--*otk; cooperating with institutions or in a are all larger organizaiiorr-ul fru-.*ork; integrated learning; and skills in organizational work' important in youth environmental organizations. Youth environmental organizations are composed of young people with fresh ideas, who still that something .ui br changed in the world, and who take numerous initiatives, often think youth with lasting results= - that's wtry ttre conservation movement is so dependent on environmental work. paucity There is an urgent need to increase cooperation at all levels, but this is hampered by a of information regarding the means available to establish cooperation between youth environmental grorip, tliemselves, as well aS between youth and adult environmental organizations. ifris boot shows some examples of how youth movements-work, what their atiitudes are, and what they can accomplish. May it be a tool for a joint effort in the battle against the destruction of the earth's resources and for a better future for mankind' Shiraz A. Wajih Chairman International Youth Federation -6- i: EDITORIAL Youth in Environmental Action may be used in various ways. First of all it is intended as an introduction to a wide circle of people involved in conservation issues. It describes how environmental organizations are run, their vital function in the environmental movement, and how they deal with education, training and public action. The book is also intended as a source and

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