Young Champions drive innovative solutions for forests

The first Young Forest Champions Workshop in Peru brought together youth leaders, experts and educators to exchange experiences, strengthen capacities and promote innovative solutions to deforestation and climate change. 

Organized through a collaboration between the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (PUCP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the event took place in Lima under the AIM4Forests – Accelerating Innovative Monitoring for Forests programme. This initiative, which started in Kenya, has expanded to Latin America this year, with Peru as the first host country. 

During the opening session, PUCP Rector Dr. Julio del Valle congratulated the selected Young Forest Champions and expressed the university’s honor in hosting the gathering. “All of you are inheriting the effects of the triple planetary crisis, which severely impacts our forests. But at the same time, you represent a source of hope thanks to your creative and transformative leadership,” he said. 

The workshop was designed to inspire, develop capacities and promote youth networks in support of forests. On the first day, the Young Champions presented initiatives ranging from forest conservation and environmental education to sustainable agroforestry, citizenship monitoring with satellite imagery and the defense of Indigenous Peoples’ rights. 

A highlight was the story of Kichwa youth leader Carlos Lozano, who shared how—following his grandfather’s example—he leads the Amazonian Center for Good Living in the San Martín region, promoting community organization and access to education for Indigenous Peoples. “This recognition [as a Young Forest Champion] is not only for me, but also for my community, because our actions are collective. It gives us greater strength to continue supporting and inspiring other young people,” he emphasized. 

The workshop also featured hands-on learning. Through mentorship sessions with experts from FAO, the Ministry of Environment (MINAM) and the PUCP, the Young Champions explored topics such as leadership, climate policies, carbon markets and forest monitoring technologies. They also participated in a session on communication and forest advocacy facilitated by Professor Víctor Santillán from PUCP, a key partner in organizing the event. 

One of the champions, Brenda Izquierdo, highlighted the importance of linking communication and technology in climate action. “Every step we take is meaningful when it has a purpose. Communication is essential to amplify the impact of our actions, and user-friendly tools like Ground allow us to monitor the evolution of the ecosystems we work in, showing the impact of our interventions.” 

The experience concluded with a field visit to Lomas de Lúcumo, also referred to as the last Green Valley in Lima, where participants engaged in tree planting activities and applied their learning using Ground, an Open Foris solution. The workshop closed with the delivery of certificates and a call to sustain the collaboration and networks built during the event. 

The Young Champions underscored that the workshop was a unique opportunity to forge alliances, connect their initiatives and broaden their perspectives on tackling deforestation, climate change and biodiversity loss. 

At the closing, the initiative coordinator Eva Ntara summed up the spirit of the gathering: “Your proposals reflect the commitment of a young generation to forest conservation. You inspire us and remind us that every action counts, and that a sustainable future is possible.”