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KLHK, BRGM invite Indonesian youth to tackle triple planetary crisis through #YCFest2024
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Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar, BRGM head Hartono and KSDAE director general Satyawan Pudyatmoko pose for a picture with #YCFest2024 participants (Courtesy of BRGM)
T
he triple planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and accumulation of waste and pollution pose a serious threat to the survival of ecosystems and humanity as a whole.
With many experiencing anxiety about these phenomena, a strong collective desire to maintain the existence of life on Earth has given rise to various initiatives and movements that are expected to be able to reduce the rate of the crises.
One such example is Youth Conservation Fest 2024 (#YCFest2024), which actively involved the younger generation in environmental conservation efforts. Taking the theme of "Let's Fight the Triple Planetary Crisis", the initiative was a collaboration between the Peatland and Mangrove Restoration Agency (BRGM), the Environment and Forestry Ministry and the Indonesian Green Institute (IHI) to rally Indonesian youth in fighting increasingly critical environmental issues.
Held from Sept. 24 to Oct. 3, #YCFest2024 featured a series of activities including the social media-centric #YCChallenge, the #YCTrip to Kamojang, West Java, to learn about Javan hawk-eagle conservation and renewable energy, the #YCTrip in Riau province related to peat and mangrove restoration activities, as well as #YCCamp to introduce young people to coastal ecosystem conservation in the Thousand Islands National Park.
#YCFest2024 marks the first year for the initiative, and the event was attended by 60 participants who were members of Green Leader Indonesia (GLI), one of the initiatives of the IHI from various batches.
Also attending was Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya, who said the #YCFest2024 event was a form of involvement of the younger generation in environmental conservation.
"We have been following the enthusiasm of the younger generation in environmental restoration activities for around five to seven years, and the benefits of the younger generation's initiative in environmental restoration are now visible, one of which is through the GLI. The Environment and Forestry Ministry and BRGM through #YCFest2024 invite the younger generation specifically to conservation, which was chosen because in forest management and protection, conservation is the last bastion of its protection," she said.
The opening of #YCFest2024 was held at the Angke Mangrove Nature Tourism Park, coinciding with Pancasila Day on Oct.1. Participants were invited to explore and celebrate the foundational values of Indonesia as well as the importance of environmental conservation.
In addition, a series of interactive dialogues through #YCDialogue aimed at providing an understanding of the triple planetary crisis, climate change mitigation, biodiversity protection and pollution control.
During the event, BRGM head Hartono provided information to participants regarding the protection of life support systems and the triple planetary crisis, while Natural Resource and Ecosystem Conservation (KSDAE) director general Satyawan Pudyatmoko discussed biodiversity conservation with the younger generation.
Hartono expressed his hopes that #YCFest2024 would enable the younger generation to formulate solutions in environmental conservation efforts.
"The role of the younger generation in this conservation is very large. As we know, the world has now exceeded six of the nine planetary boundaries or life support systems. Through #YCFest2024, the younger generation from IHI share their experiences and play an active role in formulating these adaptation steps, starting from themselves and inviting people around them," he said.
At the end of the session, participants engaged in a focus group discussion to explore innovative solutions in nature conservation efforts according to the topics raised.
#YCFest2024 participant Hanna Adelia Runtu shared her experience as a driving force behind mangrove and ecosystem restoration for the welfare of coastal communities in Ketapang, West Kalimantan, through her initiative Pongo-dopsi. She said the key to successful conservation is collaboration from the central government to the local community and that to date she has involved 50 mangrove farmers, and has pongo-dopsied 3,500 mangrove seedlings.
"As the younger generation, we have to be active in environmental conservation. We can do this mangrove restoration because it is a shared responsibility. The key is collaboration; we need to invite the active role of the affected community. Currently, farmers are receiving training to carry out effective mangrove monitoring, as well as involving women in making eco polybags for planting seedlings," Hanna said.
Along with Hanna, other #YCFest2024 participants conveyed ideas in the form of innovation as a solution to facing the three planetary crisis. It is hoped that participants will become conservation cadres who are more aware of global environmental issues and transmit the same conservation spirit to the wider community.
