Notes from GYBN Asia Workshop 2018

Setting up national chapters of GYBN (Global Youth Biodiversity Network) in different countries across continents has been a success story of 2017. Recognizing these chapters and acknowledging the growing need for capacity building, GYBN organized a regional youth capacity building workshop for Asia with an objective to strengthen the capacity of young leaders to take local actions in support of corresponding National Biodiversity Strategies and Actions Plan (NBSAP) and to contribute towards the achievement of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets. Two National Coordinators from Bangladesh Youth Biodiversity Network or GYBN Bangladesh Chapter participated in the workshop. In this blog, they share their experience. 

The workshop was held in Telangana State Forest Academy, Dullapally, Hyderabad from 14 to 21 October 2018, where 27 participants from Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Myanmar, Malaysia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Singapore, and Vietnam joined. The workshop was supported by GYBN (directly affiliated with United Nation's Convention on Biological Diversity--UN CBD) and Japan Biodiversity Fund.

The Day 01 started with the lamp lighting ceremony and prayer, followed by a short-round of introductory session among all participants. The workshop began with a brief background on how GYBN itself started with the UN CBD, and how the national chapters were later established. National Coordinators form GYBN Bangladesh presented the progress it has made so far. The workshop has acknowledged GYBN Bangladesh as one of the most dynamic and iconic initiatives in the journey of youth engagement in biodiversity-mainstreaming.

Presentation on the success story of GYBN Bangladesh Chapter

Later on the Day 1, participants worked on the current implementation status of National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans (NBSAPs) of their own countries, Aichi biodiversity targets and achievements so far. Among the Aichi biodiversity targets and SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals), Bangladesh is focusing to achieve the SDG 14 and 15, and Aichi biodiversity targets 1, 6, 8, 11, 12, 14 through initiatives of marine protected area declaration, tiger and vulture conservation, mainstreaming biodiversity, Saint Martin's Island protection and tannery relocation to reduce pollution, etc. to mention a few. 

The Day 2 started with a nature walk around the forest academy campus, which sits within a dry deciduous forest in Dullapaly far from the Hyderabad city. We started early in the morning, and were guided and briefed on different native plants and medicinal herbs by a Botanist on the track. Most amazingly, there was a model garden comprised of all the representative plants of the forest so that visitors may have a quick overview on the floral diversity of the forest -- a live visitor garden per say! A convenient way for local students to learn about the forest. We trekked for about 3 km, enjoying the serenity around and later climbed a hill formed by large stones. We noticed a dam inside the forest to preserve the rain water during monsoon. This will further provide water to the animals during the dry season when there is a scarcity of water.

After breakfast, the participants exchanged their perceptions on what 'biodiversity' means to them in an innovative way. Some wrote a short story, some drew pictures, while others simply wrote down keywords.

Outputs of GYBN Asia Capacity Building workshop after participants were asked, “What does biodiversity mean to you?”

Following "What does biodiversity mean to you", “Future with biodiversity” session was conducted where youth participants expressed their views on how they want to see the future of biodiversity. A peaceful world with no war, no corruption, zero waste, clean energy, sustainable production and consumption with shared values and opportunities were the most desired future scenarios that youth from Asia aspire to have. They imagined a future where species are no longer endangered, where our children have biodiversity to appreciate, where economies do not exploit nature instead promote it for human development, where we recognize that indigenous people are proof that living in harmony with nature is possible. 

Later on this day, participants practised to identify and determine the root causes of biodiversity loss rather than “solution oriented” thinking. A group task was given on identifying the major reasons of biodiversity loss; participants explored all the causes to determine the root causes of all problems and how these are making some positive feedback loops and often creating new other problems.

At the end of the day a slogan was made, that is “Biodiversity is a way life”.

"Human library" session to learn about participants of GYBN Asia Capacity Building workshop

Even though two days were almost gone, the participants barely got time for knowing each other well owing to the large and diverse participants form different parts of Asia. On the evening of Day 2, there was an event called “Human Library” where participants were the 'books' to loan. Participants chose one person by reading a short story then came to them to know more about him/her. It was really a nice approach to mingle with and learn about people across cultures and backgrounds. 

Day 3 started with the history of Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD), its top-down process of implementation and how Conference of Parties (COP) works. Later an intense discussion was held on the system thinking on what participants did on the previous day. Some participants pointed out that it is over-consumption and over-exploitation of resources mainly driven by humans; while others identified the governments and businesses for the loss of biodiversity. And the summary of the discussion was to find a balance of basic rights between developed and poor countries, and between the privileged and unprivileged people. Although the corporates and businesses are influencing some trends that lead to an unsustainable human behavior, a changing mindset from youth can also be a much stronger force to break the cycle. There are many underlying forces that are fueling the existing systems run by companies or governments, nevertheless we can not totally take out the blame or responsibilities from them as with power comes responsibility. 

"System thinking" session at GYBN Asia Capacity Building Workshop

Participants then made a list about their activities and interlinked those with SDGs and Aichi biodiversity target. 

On Day 4, we visited Armabad Tiger Reserve, a protected forest managed with the help of local people. Rhesus macaque, deer, and wild boars are very commonly found. Mighty Krishna river flows through the hills. The forest authority has taken ‘No use of Plastic’ initiative in the reserve. They set up a check post to facilitate that no plastic can be brought by tourists. They also provide cotton bags to tourist to bring back the thrown out plastics from the forest. The authority also encouraged the local shop owners to reduce the sale of plastic packaged goods. To secure the top predator (Tiger), forest authority manages grassland to increase the quality and quantity of grasses so that it helps herbivore population and then finally the carnivores.

Excursion to Armabad Tiger Reserve; pugmark of tiger; camera trap; hammer-headed worm; spotted deer (clockwise)

Several panel discussion session held on Day 5 where the panels were biodiversity and conservation project scientists, community facilitator, additional deputy secretary and conservators of Telangana forest department.

Later on that day the participants prioritized their focus on some major issues and grouped on discussions about inclusive conservation, synthetic biology, current economic system, and the concept of mainstreaming for GYBN actions towards 2020 and COP 14 - post-2020. The experts on those particular topics guided the participants for make proper recommendations.

The recommendation started from the recognition of indigenous people and local communities as a key right-holders having equal rights in decision making in conservation. Youths also recommended that public pressure starting from individual level can make the government and corporate world to be more environmentally responsible. When it comes to mainstreaming, focusing on all the stakeholders is difficult, but if all have the common goal and understanding on the values of biodiversity then bridging the gap among the stakeholders can be possible. The panel also suggested that if government appoints biodiversity experts or ecologists in several departments, the decision could be more environment-friendly. Independent expertise accountability panel for monitoring the extensive risk assessment of the use of technology and a legally binding transparent framework needs to be established for technology-based solutions, suggested by the youth.

In the afternoon, the participants designed an action plan with strategies, type of activities, and a timeline for implementing these action plan. Different regional groups were being formed where local, national and regional action plans were made prioritizing stakeholders for 2018-2020 time-period and presented the following day. 

The focus of the youths were on the nature-based solution, inclusive conservation where the problems will be understood globally but we will act locally, where the knowledge and practices of local communities with technology will make solution.

On all of these days the youths were being energized frequently either by exercising, by dancing or just by playing which were very energy boosting for doing all the activities. Participants also celebrated Bathukamma, an indigenous festival with the local people of Hyderabad. On the last day there was a dandiya dance, and there was so much diversity that even this traditional Indian dance was played with the song of Papua new guinea or Philippines.

The workshop finished on Day 6 with biodiversity festival where everyone came in their traditional dresses, exchanged their foods and gifts from their own country, and with certificate giving ceremony. 

On this workshop we learned how to contribute towards the achievement of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and SDGs with our individual activity. Besides strengthening our capacity to take local actions in support of NBSAP we also learned how to stay motivated and keep our energy levels high all the time for fulfilling our commitment to youth and community empowerment in biodiversity conservation. 

Global Youth Biodiversity Network is not only preparing the youths for participation in all levels of biodiversity-related decision-making processes but also making a life-time connection among these enthusiast amazing people with an aim to overcome all the environmental and social injustices.

Written By : Fahmida K Nitu and Nazia Naoreen (Member, National coordinating team of GYBN Bangladesh chapter)