Goals of the International Youth Forum

The theme of the International Youth Forum 2010 was natural World Heritage sites. All participants worked, lived in or researched on a natural World Heritage site of their country and thus have first-hand experience of the state of biodiversity in their site.

World Heritage sites are the emblematic and visible ‘flagships’ of nature conservation, transcending national borders and individual interests. The UNESCO World Heritage Convention aims at conserving the world’s most outstanding cultural and natural places for the benefit of all and as a joint responsibility of humankind. Since the effects of climate change on some sites are amongst the greatest threats to these special sites, the theme of the Youth Forum will be “Our Treasures at Risk – World Heritage Sites in Times of Climate Change”.

Based on their knowledge, experience and views the Go4BioDiv Youth Forum participants sent a clear message to COP10 in the form of video statements and other creative activities at the official conference about the need for conservation of biological and associated cultural diversity, and the importance of the voice of the coming generation.