The South African Youth Biodiversity Network (SAYBN) is a youth-led organization operating in South Africa since 2017. The organization was started on the 6th of September 2017, following the Global Youth Biodiversity Network’s Africa capacity-building workshop, in Johannesburg, in August 2017. SAYBN is a national chapter of the Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN). It was founded on the 6th of September 2017, after the Africa capacity-building workshop hosted by GYBN in collaboration with the Department of Forestry Fisheries and Environment (DFFE) formerly known as the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) in Krugersdorp, in August 2017. GYBN is an international network of 280 youth organizations, representing a total of 664,000 members from 140 countries, whose common goal is to prevent the loss of Biodiversity.

GYBN is the coordination platform for youth participation in the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and is officially recognized by the CBD Secretariat

We pride ourselves on providing strategic and creative platforms for youth to engage in biodiversity policy advocacy, multilateral environmental agreements, and the implementation of green grassroots projects. We work with youth and civil society groups and other stakeholders towards a common goal of halting and reversing biodiversity crises and contributing to a safer, cleaner, and healthier environment in South Africa.

Since 2017, we have been recognized as a key youth stakeholder by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment in South Africa and have participated in multiple stakeholder consultations on South African biodiversity and environmental policies. We have also sent youth representatives to local, regional, and international policy meetings on multilateral environmental agreements and the Convention on Biological Diversity Conferences and negotiation processes such as the CBD COP 14, COP 15, OEWGs, SBSTTTA, and SBIs.

As a network, we have also conducted youth consultations on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (now referred to as the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework). We have worked with various partners to build youth capacity on biodiversity policies and environmental issues

As part of the Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN), SAYBN also advances the agenda of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) among youth.

South African National Youth Consultations on the GBF

 

Through partnerships with 11 partners (Universities, state actors, and NGOs), we were able to host 6 in-person youth stakeholder consultations, collating youth’s perspectives and views on the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework in 6 provinces across South Africa. We also hosted virtual consultations.

 

African Youth Biodiversity Summit

SAYBN co-hosted the African Youth Biodiversity Summit with Vhembe Biosphere Reserve and GYBN Africa, bringing together 25 African youth voices to be well-capacitated on the Convention on Biological Diversity and reflect on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework