The AIM4Forests Young Forest Champions initiative receives over 1,500 applications from around the world

The Young Forest Champions Initiative, launched under FAO’s AIM4Forests programme, has generated a remarkable response from youth worldwide, receiving 1,521 applications in just two weeks from late January to mid-February 2025. Originally designed to empower young people in forest monitoring, conservation and restoration across five focus countries—Ghana, Kenya, Peru, Uganda, and Zambia— the initiative has attracted global attention, highlighting the growing international interest among young people in forest monitoring, conservation, and restoration. 

From Kenya to the world 

The Young Forest Champions Initiative began in Kenya, where ten passionate young female champions have already made significant strides. Since early 2024, they’ve engaged over 10,550 community members and planted more than 150,000 trees to restore degraded landscapes. Their work contributes to Kenya’s ambitious target of restoring 10.6 million hectares of land and planting 15 billion trees by 2032. 

Now, AIM4Forests is expanding this success story. This year, the initiative will extend to four other countries: Ghana, Peru, Uganda, and Zambia, empowering more young leaders to take action for their forests and communities. The applications came in as follows: 519 from Kenya, 385 from Zambia, 264 from Uganda, 148 from Ghana, and 133 from Peru.  

The applications revealed a dynamic and diverse group of young individuals eager to contribute to forest monitoring, conservation and restoration: 

• Gender balance: 56% male, 44% female. 
• Age range: 88% were between 18 and 30 years old, aligning with the initiative’s focus on youth engagement.
• Educational background: Over 55% were recent graduates, eager to apply their academic knowledge to real-world conservation efforts.
• Forestry experience:
  • 41% had prior experience in forestry or environmental conservation.
  • 38% had volunteered in local community forestry projects.
  • 21% had no prior experience but displayed a strong willingness to learn.
• Diversity and inclusion: 569 applicants identified as Indigenous Peoples or local community members, and 35 applicants with disabilities, reinforcing the initiative’s commitment to inclusive participation. 

The selection process is now underway, with AIM4Forests and its country partners carefully reviewing the applications to select ten outstanding Young Forest Champions per country. A total of 50 exceptional youth will be chosen to participate and share their learnings within their networks and communities. The final selections will be announced by late March 2025, followed by mentorship programs and in-country workshops planned throughout the course of the year.

Building a global youth network for forest monitoring 

In addition, to five targeted countries, 72 applications were received from beyond the target countries, including Nigeria, Pakistan, Tanzania, Egypt, Bangladesh, the United Arab Emirates, China, South Africa, and more. This reflects the growing passion of youth worldwide for forests. 

With such strong global interest, AIM4Forests and its partners are exploring the creation of a global youth network for forest monitoring. This network would provide an ongoing platform for young conservationists to collaborate, share knowledge, and drive impactful action beyond national borders. 

The success of the application phase was made possible through an extensive outreach campaign led by AIM4Forests and its partners. The call for applications was widely shared across social media, institutional networks, and key partner organizations, including the World Food Forum, Kenya Forest Service, Pontifical Catholic University of Peru, Forestry Commission Ghana, British Embassy Lima, Youth Go Green Uganda, and Zambia’s Ministry of Youth, Sport & Arts. Their collective efforts helped engage thousands of young people eager to make a difference. 

Stay tuned for updates and follow the journey of these inspiring young leaders as they work together with their communities to foster a greener and more sustainable future.