is an international network of youth organizations and individuals from every global region who have united together  with a common goal: preventing the loss of biodiversity and preserving Earth’s natural resources.

Currently, GYBN has 280 member organizations, representing a total of 664,000 members from 140 countries worldwide.

As the official group for youth in the negotiations under the CBD, GYBN is committed to bringing the opinions and positions of young people into the political process; empowering young people to take action. Recognized and supported by the CBD Secretariat, GYBN seeks to inspire global youth and future leaders to work for the sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity in order to ensure a healthy global environment and enduring societies.

We believe biodiversity is life; it is crucial to the balance of ecosystems and the survival of all species. Despite this, biodiversity continues to be lost at an unprecedented rate. This loss is one the greatest challenges of our time and needs to be addressed on all levels.

Our vision is to transform the world into one that does not experience human-induced biodiversity loss and where people live in harmony with nature.

Our mission is to build a global coalition of individuals and youth organisations to halt the loss of biodiversity through mobilizing and empowering young people whilst raising global awareness on the importance of biodiversity…

The idea of establishing an international youth network to link young people interested in preserving biodiversity has existed earlier than 2008, and was raised by numerous youth at various events through many organizations.  In October 2010, many of these passionate young people came together at the 10th Conference of the Parties (COP) of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity to officially announce their interest in starting the Global Youth Biodiversity Network…

Thanks to generous financial support from the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN), all of these efforts eventually led to the official establishment of GYBN at an international Kick-Off conference hosted by NAJU in Berlin, Germany from August 21st to 27th, 2012.  Thirty-five youth from thirteen countries attended the conference where they learned about biodiversity issues through participating in  workshops and networking with each other.   The final days of the conference were used to create a statute, mission, and vision for GYBN, and to create a position paper for the upcoming CBD COP-11.

Following a recommendation by the CBD Secretariat on the legal implications of establishing an international organization, the Interim Steering Committee later decided to change the name of the organization to the Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN).

The GYBN Statute was adopted at the GYBN Kick-Off Meeting held in Berlin, Germany in August 2012.

It has been amended as necessary by the GYBN Steering Committee through consultation with GYBN members.

works to improve the lives of the people in Thailand through the broad thematic areas of democratic governance and social advocacy, inclusive green growth and sustainable development and gender equality.

In Thailand, UNDP works with the Royal Thai Government, civil society, national partners and the private sector and accountable manner, to consolidate a participatory democracy and create an enabling environment for inclusive growth and sustainable use of natural resources….

UNDP is the lead development agency of the United Nations, working to support countries’ work towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs. UNDP has more than 50 years of experience leading the UN’s development work, providing knowledge,practical expertise, and a legacy of trust.

UNDP works in nearly 170 countries and territories, helping to eradicate poverty, and to do that in a way which also reduces inequality and exclusion, and avoids wrecking the ecosystems on which life depends.

UNDP is working with the Royal Thai government, civil society, national partners and the Thai public to help find solutions to persistent development challenges. We continue to work to provide technical expertise, such as improved data quality and collection, international expertise on environmental issues like climate change finance and adaptation.

UNDP’s priority in a middle-income country like Thailand is to work within outlined agreements like the United Nations Partnership Agreement Framework (UNPAF) signed on 27 July 2017. We continue to provide strong policy advice and advocacy on normative UN issues such as gender equality, social and economic inequality, human rights, and rule of law.

(All images courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)