Youth-Led Roundtable for Action on Biodiversity, Conflict and Peacebuilding

Date & Time
Jun 19, 2026 | 14.00 - 15.30

Participants
Shruthi Kottillil, Global Youth Biodiversity Network (India)
Sudha Kottillil, Global Youth Biodiversity Network (India)
Alan Valdes, EcoMaxei (Mexico)
Dodo Tshidinda, African Wildlife Foundation (Democratic Republic of the Congo)

This roundtable will explore the intersections of environment, conflict and peace through a youth lens, drawing on the Global Youth Biodiversity Network’s (GYBN) work starting from 2022. As the official youth constituency to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), GYBN has advanced youth capacity on Conflict Sensitive Conservation (CSC) through training and resource development. Discussions will examine how biodiversity loss and environmental degradation can fuel local tensions, while highlighting opportunities for nature-informed peacebuilding and bringing these perspectives to global platforms such as the CBD. Emphasis will be placed on youth-led initiatives that use equity and inclusive decision-making as tools for dialogue and reconciliation. The session will provide space for knowledge-sharing among youth, peacebuilding experts and practitioners, fostering intergenerational collaboration. By showcasing case studies, identifying gaps and co-developing recommendations, the roundtable will strengthen youth contributions to CSC and peacebuilding agendas, advancing policies that promote ecological resilience and lasting peace.