We Are Nature: Youth Biodiversity Challenge

About the Challenge

Learning Journey

Action Library

Voices of Youth Library

Scale-up Plans

The We Are Nature: Youth Biodiversity Challenge is a dynamic global movement empowering young people, including Indigenous youth and youth from local communities, to take an active role in biodiversity action. From local communities to global ecosystems, this initiative invites you on an educational, collaborative, and action-driven journey—placing young voices at the heart of ecological protection.

Our mission aligns with the Global Biodiversity Framework's ambitious goal to address biodiversity loss by 2030, toward reaching the 2050 vision of living in harmony with nature. By joining this challenge, you become a vital force in turning awareness into action.

In our commitment to inclusivity and accessibility, our platform provides multilingual resources that ensure the voices and actions of a diverse range of individuals are heard and shared.

Let’s make our generation’s voice echo through history!

Join Now!

This challenge will be rolled out in Kenya and South Africa between July-September 2025 and is open for young people aged 18-35 residing in Kenya and South Africa.

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Level 1 – Educate Dive in to the learning materials to learn more about biodiversity action. Explore the wonders of global and local ecosystems and see how your actions can make a real difference in achieving the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) goals.

Level 2 – Collaborate Expand your network! Network with peers and mentors from around the world. Deepen your knowledge and jump into collaborative opportunities to amplify your impact through shared ideas and solutions.

Level 3 – Activate It's time for action! Use the Action Cards to jump into biodiversity projects and become a champion for sustainable practices. Inspire the community by sharing your achievements and partner with others to make a lasting difference. Contribute your story to the Voices of Youth Library and submit your Action Card to share successful strategies, strengthening our combined efforts for biodiversity.

Discover our collection of actionable solutions designed to empower you to take meaningful steps in biodiversity action. From local initiatives to global impacts, each Action Card provides practical steps to guide you on your journey towards environmental stewardship. Explore the Action Library.

Youth taking action

Have you witnessed an impactful biodiversity initiative in your community? Share it with us! You’re invited to submit your own Action Card, showcasing effective solutions that others can emulate to promote and sustain biodiversity. Together, we can amplify our collective impact. Submit your Action Card.

Welcome to the Voices of Youth Library, a global collection of inspiring stories from young leaders dedicated to restoring and protecting our planet's biodiversity. Here, we celebrate the ideas and actions driving positive environmental change. Each video is a testament to the efforts of youth from around the world, working to build a more sustainable future. Explore these narratives to find inspiration, discover solutions, and uncover your role in the movement for biodiversity action.

Submit your story in your preferred language— we want our platform to be a library of global and diverse narratives. To assist you, we've included a Creator Guide that will walk you through the process.

Upload Your Video HERE

Please see our Voices of Youth Creator Guide for more information.

Voices of Youth Video

Voices of Youth Video: Avani - https://youtube.com/shorts/BgfCmnoX1Zg

Voices of Youth Video: Phebe - https://youtube.com/shorts/GoIEFnq5TOc

We Are Nature builds on the success of the UNEP-facilitated Tide Turners Plastic Challenge, which has engaged nearly 1 million young people across 61 countries over 6 years, showcasing the power of youth-led action in tackling environmental challenges. The first pilot of We are Nature: Youth Biodiversity Challenge will be rolled out in Kenya and South Africa in 2025, with an ambition to scale it up in 20 countries and reach 1 million youth over the next 5 years.

What’s needed to take this to scale?

Localise the Challenge: Build out localised key education resources and solution cards.
Offer micro-grants for youth to implement/scale-up their solutions.
Provide green skill building for youth.
Prioritise youth policy leadership and government engagement at national levels, including policy advocacy training for youth.
Share best practices and showcase youth contributions to national GBF target attainment In case of any interest in collaborating on the scale up, please reach out to us (Marianna Osipova).

Be part of a robust support network – a community of peers, mentors, and seasoned experts ready to amplify your impact. Inspired by the belief that even a small group can change the world, we're here to foster collective growth, providing guidance, opportunity and encouragement along the way. Join us and discover how, together, our generation can make biodiversity action a defining force for the planet's future.

Marianna Osipova

Last updated: 29 Aug 2025, 11:32

Did you know?

If oceans were a country, they would be the seventh largest economy in the world.

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