Around 40 students from around the world landed in the city on Thursday to represent youth at the ongoing biodiversity convention.
All of them, a part of a global NGO for biodiversity, the Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN) stated that their main aim of being a part of the convention was to strengthen youth participation and also put their perspective.
“We believe that as youngsters we have a major role to play in conserving biodiversity and speak as one voice, because we need to conserve our own future,” said Isabel Daum, a member.
The GYBN is also a stakeholder at the convention. “We have no real rights when it comes to the convention. We want to have a say and be a part of the whole process,” said another member from Germany, Alexander Hoffman.
Adding a little about the events carried on by the group, Svana Rogalla explains, “We conduct events where we plant trees, clean lakes and forests, conduct public awareness campaigns, which are making a difference at the basic level.” The group will be conducting a couple of side events in the coming week. When asked about their views on the GM crops, they said, “There has been a huge resistance over them all over. We are completely against the GM crops.”