European youth gathers to shape and share ideas for the future of ecosystem restoration

The FAO Liaison Office in Brussels participated in the European Youth Event 2021, which brought together 10 000 young people online, as well as in person in Strasbourg, to share their ideas for the future of Europe.

FAO and the World Food Forum (WFF) worked with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and other United Nations colleagues to set up a virtual challenge on the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. Participants arriving at the UN stand were able to take part in a quiz to test their knowledge about ecosystems, biodiversity, natural resources and the potential for restoration.

Visitors also had access to FAO, UNEP and WFF resources on ecosystem restoration, youth action and engagement and the #GenerationRestoration campaign. During the weekend, more than 1 000 young people engaged with the United Nations activities, confirming the interest of youth in nature and biodiversity protection, as well as their desire and potential to be agents of change.

The weekend also marked the launch of a call for youth stories about restoration and biodiversity. This initiative, aimed at generating inspiring ideas and stories on how young people in Europe can help to restore ecosystems, was part of the #GenerationRestoration movement and the European Commission Directorate-General for the Environment’s #TheGreenTrack campaign, which was launched on 8 October.