In the run-up to the Nagoya conference, the participants prepared an introduction to their World Heritage Site and the region around it in an imaginative and creative way – making use of photos, comics, videos, songs, haiku poems or stories. From this material, a colourful and engaging exhibition of the young person’s perspective on natural World Heritage Sites was developed. This formed part of the exhibition at CEPA Fair at COP10 and travelled the world afterwards.

During COP10

In October, in parallel with COP10, the young participants will meet each other for the first time. They will live and work together at the foot of the iconic Mount Fuji during 10 days in close relationship with nature. Besides getting to know the spectacular cultural landscape of Fujisan and problems in its conservation, they will also engage in artistic activities like a dance choreography or musical performances.

Participants will prepare a dance piece that conveys what the group as an ensemble understands by the world’s natural treasures we want to safeguard. At Mt Fuji, they will work under the guidance of professional choreographers to create this unique piece of dance art.

Together with Japanese artists, they will jointly create the second part of the exhibition at CEPA Fair, a magnificent wooden treasure box that can be filled with each participants gifts from their home World Heritage Site. Their main concern will be to discuss general issues of World Heritage Sites and biodiversity conservation and present their messages to politicians and media representatives on stage in Nagoya during the high level segment of COP10.

All participants of the International Youth Forum were at COP10 from 25 – 28 October. There, they had meetings with politicians, discussed with experts in side-events, presented their declaration in high-level meetings, accompanied their exhibition on World heritage sites, showed their dance choreography and engaged with civil society and the media.

Post-COP10

In order to ensure continuity and to stimulate sharing and dissemination of experience, participants of the last summit and other young people are involved in the organisation and execution of the project. The Go4BioDiv-team was allocated an important role in the analysis and further communication of the results following Nagoya. Together with participants, the Go4Biodiv team edited a 100-page brochure on natural World Heritage Sites , including the experiences and activities of the Youth Forum and the Messengers. It will be published in April 2012 under the title ‘Our Treasures at Risk’.

The network of enthusiastic and deeply committed young people engaged in biodiversity and World Heritage conservation is established.