The Global Youth Network for Forest Monitoring was launched on October 2025 as a collaborative space for young people passionate about forests, sustainability, and climate action. The network fosters knowledge exchange, mentorship, and peer connection among youth worldwide — empowering members to share learning opportunities, experiences, and innovative ideas on forest monitoring, restoration, and conservation. Operating primarily through WhatsApp for active interaction and LinkedIn for professional networking, the platform connects young leaders across regions to strengthen their role in protecting and monitoring forests.
The Young Forest Champions are at the forefront of environmental conservation, driving impactful change across six countries. In Kenya the ten champions have been instrumental in engaging over 10,550 community members and planting more than 150,000 trees in forest restoration efforts since the beginning of the year. Their initiatives have sparked wider collaboration among conservation stakeholders, contributing to Kenya’s ambitious goal of restoring 10.6 million hectares of degraded landscapes by planting and nurturing 15 billion trees by 2032. AIM4Forests has now replicated this success in other countries, including Ghana, Indonesia, Peru, Uganda and Zambia.
Meet our champions 2024
Interview with Grace Kimaru (Kenya) on the AIM4Forests Young Forest Champions Initiative
28/02/2025
Grace Kimaru, Founder of the Foster Green Organization in Kenya and a Young Forest Champion (formerly Forest Carbon Champion) supported by FAO’s AIM4Forests...
Interview with Olgah Hellens (Kenya) on the e-learning series Forest Monitoring for Climate Action
19/11/2024
Olgah Hellens, Founder and Director of iConserve in Kenya, and Forest Carbon Champion supported by the FAO’s AIM4Forests programme, shares her insights...
Olgah Hellens
Olgah is an environmentalist with five years' experience in leading and executing community-based projects. She founded iConserve, an initiative dedicated to empowering youths and communities on sustainable use of natural resources within Lake Victoria basin and its surrounding catchment areas. Her work primarily centers on forest monitoring, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable agriculture.
Grace Kimaru
Grace, from Nyeri, Kenya, is the founder of Foster Green Community Based Organization. She promotes environmental conservation through tree growing, climate literacy via community capacity building, and advocates for climate-resilient cities. Using social media, she raises awareness on environmental stewardship and drives meaningful climate action in her community.
Eva Kihonge
Eva is a data-driven GIS analyst experienced in leveraging Python tools for geospatial analysis and climate data processing. She conducts environmental impact assessments, applies social vulnerability indices, and engages stakeholders to manage natural resources sustainably. Eva also supports investment projects in forestry, renewable energy, and agriculture across Africa.
Patricia Kombo
Patricia is the founder of the Patree Initiative, which promotes environmental literacy and sustainable land use. She contributed to the National Climate Change Action Plan (2023-2027) and is an alumnus of the International Visitors Leadership Program. Currently pursuing a master’s in Climate Change and Adaptation at the University of Nairobi, she has been recognized by the Finnish mission in Kenya for her community work.
Winnie Cheche
Winnie is a Kenya-based climate activist and environmental communication strategist. As founder of The Eco Advocate, she champions sustainability and youth engagement in Africa. She also leads initiatives at Kenya Environment Action Network and the Young Muslim Association.
Theresa Aoko
Theresa, a seasoned environmental policy practitioner, is the national coordinator of Kenya Forests Working Group, a civil society network that advocates for sustainable management of Kenya's forests. She is a founder of Kenya Youth in Forestry, promoting youth entrepreneurship in the forestry sector for climate action and sustainable livelihoods.
Maurine Njeri
Maurine, an Environmentalist and a co-founder of Changers Foundation. She champions for climate change actions and Environmental conservation through creating awareness on climate change adaptation and mitigation measures at grassroot level. Maurine engages her community in tree planting activities and workshops to share knowledge on climate change related issues. She believes youths are the key to building resilient communities.
Wendy Omanga
Wendy is an award winning Climate Storyteller trained by CNN Academy. She is passionate about digital advocacy by producing and directing films that highlight climate stories. She is also The Founder of Moonlight Initiative Media, whose flagship project is riparian land restoration through bamboo afforestation along major rivers in Kenya.
Pauline Owiti
Pauline is a professional agronomist and the founder of The Polly Foundation. She works with small-scale farmers, focusing on sustainable farming practices and facilitating climate education. Passionate about empowering communities, Pauline supports initiatives that enhance environmental stewardship and agricultural resilience.
Teresia Kuria
Teresia is a professional forester working at Kenya Forest Service. Her journey in sustainable management and conservation of forests has been a blend of experiences and achievements. She leads in trainings that enhance relationship between forest conservation and community livelihoods, ensuring both forests and people thrive together harmoniously.
Youth Forest Monitoring Innovation Prize
09/04/2026 - 15/05/2026
The Youth Forest Monitoring Innovation Prize is now open for applications as part of the Transformative Research Challenge 2026.
Youth embrace digital tools to protect Uganda's forests
31/07/2026
As Uganda continues to grapple with extreme weather conditions, including prolonged heat, drought and drying water sources, environmental experts...
Uganda’s Young Forest Champions equipped to advance restoration and climate action
30/07/2026
Young people are playing an increasingly important role in restoring Uganda’s forests and addressing climate change. From leading restoration initiatives...
Young Forest Champions Build Leadership for Forest Restoration and Climate Finance in Zambia
28/07/2026
From 29 June to 2 July 2026, the AIM4Forests Young Forest Champions from the 2025 and 2026 cohorts came together in Lusaka for a four-day programme...
FAO selects 60 Young Forest Champions for 2026
08/06/2026
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has selected 60 Young Forest Champions for 2026 to lead action on forest conservation,...
Indigenous and rural young champions lead the way
27/10/2025
At the World Food Forum 2025, the side event “Young Forest Champions: Indigenous and Rural Youth in Action” celebrated youth leadership in forest monitoring,...
Young Forest Champions: Indigenous and rural youth in action
05/12/2025
On 15 October, during the 2025 World Food Forum (WFF) flagship event, the Forestry Division of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United...
FAO empowers Ghana’s Young Forest Champions to lead in climate action and forest monitoring
21/11/2025
The Food and Agriculture Organization, in collaboration with the Forestry Commission and the World Food Forum Ghana Chapter, has convened a training...
Forestry Commission Urges Ghanaian Youth to Champion Forest Conservation and Climate Action
06/11/2025
As Ghana faces increasing threats from deforestation, illegal mining and climate change, the Forestry Commission is calling on the nation’s youth to...
Young Champions drive innovative solutions for forests
03/10/2025
The first Young Forest Champions Workshop in Peru brought together youth leaders, experts and educators to exchange...
FAO AIM4Forests Young Forest Champions represent Peru and receive international training at PUCP
02/10/2025
On September 29, the campus of the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (PUCP) hosted the inauguration of the FAO Young Forest Champions - AIM4Forests...
Uganda’s Young Forest Champions Lead the Way in Forest Restoration and Conservation
18/07/2025
A capacity-building workshop dedicated to Uganda’s AIM4Forests Young...
Uganda’s Young Forest Champions driver restoration efforts
19/07/2025
A new generation of environmental stewards is stepping up to combat deforestation in Uganda, as the Young Forest Champion Workshop, a collaborative...
FAO empowers young forest champions to restore, protect environment
17/07/2025
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Uganda, in partnership with the Ministry of Water and Environment, National Forestry Authority (NFA), and...
AIM4Forests Young Forest Champion workshop mobilizes Zambia’s future forest leaders
15/07/2025
From 9–11 July 2025, ten dynamic young Zambians gathered in Lusaka for the AIM4Forests Young...
Zambia Empowers Youth as Forest Champions Through AIM4Forests Initiative
09/07/2025
The Ministry of Youth, Sport and Arts, in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), has launched the AIM4Forests Young Champions...
FAO’s Young Forest Champions take a deep dive into Forest Monitoring
27/06/2025
Youth play a pivotal role in advancing Kenya’s ambitious national forest targets such as the national restoration target of planting 15 billion trees...
Inspiring future forest leaders through dialogue and knowledge exchange
24/06/2025
To inspire the next generation of forestry professionals, FAO welcomed 18 students from the Global Forestry (
Youth-led initiative boosts mangrove conservation in Mombasa
13/06/2025
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations and the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) are ramping up forest restoration efforts in...
FAO announces 50 Young Forest Champions to drive forest conservation and restoration on the ground
05/06/2025
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) today on World Environment Day announced 50
The AIM4Forests Young Forest Champions initiative receives over 1 500 applications from around the world
28/02/2025
The Young Forest Champions Initiative, launched under FAO’s AIM4Forests programme, has generated a remarkable response from youth worldwide, receiving...
World Forest Voices: Meet the COFO Champions! Part 1
Hear from our COFO Champions in the new World Food Forum podcast series "World Forest Voices"
World Forest Voices: Meet the COFO Champions! Part 2
Hear from our COFO Champions in the new World Food Forum podcast series "World Forest Voices"
International Women's Day: Empowering the Future
In this special Women's Day episode, join Eva Ntara and four inspiring women as they explore how young women are leading the way in sustainable forest management. Eva shares her experience through AIM4Forests' Young Forest Champions Initiative.
World Forest Voices: Indigenous Youth Restoring Peru's Forests
In this episode, Lizet Mejía, co-founder of Qinti Perú and AIM4Forests Young Forest Champion, highlights how Indigenous youth and ancestral Andean traditions are restoring forests in the Peruvian Highlands.
Hybrid Event
Young Forest Champions: Indigenous and Rural Youth in Action
15/10/2025
This side event (YLO5) is taking place on 15 October from17:00 to 18:00 (CEST) as part of the World Food Forum 2025 flagship event. Supported...
See also
- #Forestchampions
- #AIM4Forests
Contact
Young Forest Champions: Indigenous and Rural Youth in Action
14/10/2025
The side event “Young Forest Champions: Indigenous and Rural Youth in Action,” held on 15 October during the World Food Forum 2025, highlighted the leadership and innovation of Indigenous and rural youth in forest conservation, restoration, and sustainable food systems. Organized under the Young ...
Young Forest Champions Peruvian Workshop
09/10/2025
As a result of a collaboration between the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (PUCP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the first Young Forest Champions Workshop was held in Lima under the AIM4Forests programme – Accelerating Innovative Forest Monitoring. T...
Forest and farm champions: rural youth shaping tomorrow’s forests and farms
28/11/2024
Forest and farm champions: rural youth shaping tomorrow’s forests and farms