South African Youth Biodiversity Network

Fostering Full and Effective Youth Participation in South African Biodiversity Policies and Projects
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Who We Are

The South African Youth Biodiversity Network (SAYBN) is a dynamic, youth-led organization founded on September 6, 2017, after the Global Youth Biodiversity Network’s (GYBN) Africa capacity-building workshop in Johannesburg.
As the national chapter of GYBN, SAYBN is part of a global movement involving 280 youth organizations and 664,000 members from 140 countries, all dedicated to preventing biodiversity loss. GYBN serves as the official youth coordination platform for the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
At SAYBN, we create strategic and innovative platforms for young people to engage in biodiversity policy advocacy, multilateral environmental agreements, and green grassroots projects.
Collaborating with youth, civil society, and other stakeholders, we aim to halt and reverse biodiversity crises, contributing to a safer, cleaner, and healthier environment in South Africa.

Our Values & Objectives

Vision

  • We envision a South Africa where human-induced biodiversity loss is a thing of the past, and people live in harmony with nature. Our goal is to cultivate a generation of well-informed youth actively engaged in biodiversity policy at both national and international levels.

Mission

  • Our mission is to build a powerful national coalition of young people dedicated to halting biodiversity loss. We achieve this by advocating for progressive policies, raising awareness about the importance of biodiversity, empowering young people through education and opportunities, and facilitating their involvement in impactful grassroots projects.

Capacity Building

  • Organise training events to prepare young people for active participation in meetings related to Multilateral Environmental Agreements, with a focus on the Convention on Biological Diversity

​Opportunity Sharing

  • Sharing information on vacancies, internships, workshops, scholarships, and other opportunities relevant to youth in conservation.​

Environmental Education

  • Utilize social media and other platforms to educate the public on environmental issues and the significance of biodiversity.

Grassroots Projects

  • Plan and participate in grassroots initiatives aimed at protecting, conserving, and restoring biodiversity across South Africa.

Youth Representation in Environmental Decisions

  • Ensure the South African youth perspective is represented in decisions of various Multilateral Environmental Agreements, particularly the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

Focus Areas

Biodiversity Policy Advocacy

We organize youth consultations workshops on various multilateral environmental agreements, CBD-related policies, and South African conservation policies, collating youth perspectives on the biodiversity policies.

We provide Biodiversity Policy advocacy to South African Youth to build their capacity to be able to influence biodiversity policies at local, national, regional and international level. Through the network, we are able to sent youth representatives to various high-level policy meetings and negotiations to

Capacity Building

We capacitate youth on various multilateral environmental agreements, CBD-related policies, and South African conservation policies to ensure that they are well-equipped to participate in stakeholder consultations and high level policy negotiations

We provide youth capacity building on multilateral environmental agreements such as the Convention on Biological Diversity and South African Biodiversity policies and their implementation.

Grassroots projects:Youth-led actions

We collaborate in the implementation of environmental grassroots projects and campaigns such as Eco-Bricks projects

Through collaboration with multiple partners, we participate in grassroots projects contributing to the achievement of South Africa's National Biodiversity Strategic Action Plans (NBSAPs)

Environmental Education

We raise environmental awareness through social media campaigns, webinars, blogs and intergenerational dialogues

Through social media campaigns, webinars, blogs, and youth dialogues, SAYBN raises environmental awareness on different subjects related to South Africa's environment and biodiversity as a whole

Since 2017, SAYBN has been recognized as a key youth stakeholder by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE) in South Africa. We have actively participated in numerous stakeholder consultations on national biodiversity and environmental policies.

Our youth representatives have attended local, regional, and international policy meetings related to multilateral environmental agreements, including key events such as CBD COP 14, COP 15, OEWGs, SBSTTTA, and SBIs.
As a network, we have conducted extensive youth consultations on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (now the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework).
Collaborating with various partners, we have built youth capacity on biodiversity policies and environmental issues. As part of the Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN), SAYBN advances the agenda of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) among youth.

African Youth Biodiversity Summit

SAYBN co-hosted the African Youth Biodiversity Summit with Vhembe Biosphere Reserve and GYBN Africa, bringing together 25 African youth to enhance their understanding of the Convention on Biological Diversity and reflect on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.

South African National Youth Consultations on the GBF

In partnership with 11 organisations, including universities, state actors, and NGOs, SAYBN hosted six in-person youth stakeholder consultations across six provinces in South Africa. These sessions gathered youth perspectives on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. Additionally, we facilitated virtual consultations to ensure broader participation.

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South African Youth Biodiversity Network

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