The XV World Forestry Congress (XV WFC) presented a unique opportunity to draw, connect, inspire and empower youth from all over the world to discuss and work towards a green, healthy, and sustainable future with forests.

Through the Congress, many youth and young professionals in the forest sector and other land-use related sectors came together and made a monumental statement on their role, capacity, contributions to the forest sector and stated their needs for an inclusive and meaningful participation in the sector. 

Youth partners

Youth-led side events and other youth-relevant events

• Fellowship application/proposal writing workshop
• Social Forest Entrepreneurship Training: Introduction to Nature Based Solutions
• WFC Youth Declaration Consultation workshop
• The future is now: Investing in young forestry professionals and career development
• A conversation exploring the intersection between our future forests and young forest stewards
• Branching out & growing networks: Young professional networking events
• Youth proposals for innovative technologies in the forestry sector in Asia Pacific
• Forest education for children: innovations in learning for a sustainable future

Youth and young professional speakers at the Congress

The Congress provided an opportunity for youth and young professionals' voices in the forest sector to be brought on board in several dialogues and side events. Twenty-three youth and young professionals from 17 countries were featured as speakers across 29 plenary sessions and side events. 

Youth and young professionals technical contributions: Posters, papers and videos

The WFC invited submissions of voluntary contributions of papers, posters and videos to provide an opportunity for participants to share experiences, good practices and innovations with a global audience and contribute to the enrichment of discussions and reflection on the Congress theme and sub-themes. Fifty-two per cent of the accepted posters, papers and videos had youth, young professionals and students as main authors and 20 out of 59 presentations at the Speakers' Corner were from youth and young professionals authors. Find more about voluntary contributions here.

FAO’s Director General applauds youth engagement at the WFC

During the XV World Forestry Congress, the youth and young professionals had the opportunity to meet and interact with FAO’s Director General, Qu Dongyu, at the Congress. Mr. Qu affirmed his commitment and support for youth engagement and empowerment, and the youth expressed their appreciation to work that has already been done for their inclusion and highlighted key areas of action for youth empowerment.

• Watch the video
• Press release
• Statement by FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu on the occasion of World Environment Day 5 June

Work with us - Youth Call to Action delivered at the Congress

After nearly two years of wide consultations across the world with different youth organizations and expert groups led by Major Groups for Children and Youth to the United Nations Forum on Forests and the WFC Youth Coalition with the support of the WFC Secretariat, the Youth Call to Action was read at the closing session of the Congress. Read by Amos Amanubo, the WFC Youth Outreach and Liaison specialist, the Call-to-Action highlights five core areas of action to promote meaningful inclusion and participation of youth in the forest sector. Read the Call to Action.

TreeTalks

TreeTalks, a TEDx-style inspired platform at the Congress, hosted three inspiring youth speakers Otuo-Akyampong Boakye, Jessica Vega Ortega and Lacey Rose who shared inspiring messages based on their unique knowledge and experience in the forest sector as youth and young professionals.

World Forest Voices podcast

Follow and listen to the #WorldForestVoices podcast, a youth-led podcast aimed at bringing an innovative medium for storytelling. The podcast promotes intergenerational dialogue and stories of youth-led initiatives and innovations on pressing issues in the forest sector. Learn more.

Project Learning Tree Initiative WFC Green Mentor Programme

The XV World Forestry Congress in partnership with the Sustainable Forestry Initiative and their Project Learning Tree Initiative developed a dynamic 6-month mentorship programme to connect young people (18-35) in the forest sector with seasoned forest sector professionals. 

You can read more about the programme here.

WFC regional consultations and Regional Declaration

The Major Group for Children and Youth to the United Nations Forum on Forests, together with support from the XV WFC Secretariat, organized 4 regional consultations that brought together over 100 students, youth and young professionals from around the world to discuss their meaningful participation, contribution and recognition in the forest sector. The regional consultations leading up to the development of the XV WFC Youth Declaration are now closed. More information on the process can be found here.

Youth and young professional webinar series

WFC Youth forest change-makers

To promote and showcase youth impact and innovation, the WFC Youth Forest Change-maker competition provided an opportunity for young people aged 18–35 to showcase how their work is positively impacting forests and communities. Meet the winners of the Contest and all eligible entries.

WFC blog competition

A living library: Faces of Forestry

The Faces of Forestry campaign promotes and showcases the diversity of the forest sector and provide a platform for individuals to share their unique lived experiences and perspectives. There will be a special focus to showcase participants belonging to groups who may be underrepresented at international fora. Read more here.