Living in Harmony with Nature: Youth as Catalysts for Peace and Resilience

Shruthi Kottillil, Global Youth Biodiversity Network (India)

Since 2022, the Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN) has been working to advance the linkages between biodiversity, peace, and conflict within the UN CBD framework. Recognizing that conservation efforts often intersect with social tensions, GYBN established a Working Group of young leaders, trained in conflict-sensitive conservation approaches. Through this initiative, 2 key resources were developed to equip young people with tools for inclusive and peaceful biodiversity action. The Group also empowers young people to navigate conflict situations within conservation contexts, building capacity in conflict-sensitive approaches. This work was informed by GYBN’s global survey, that revealed eye-opening insights into how conflicts directly affect young people’s conservation efforts, underscoring the urgent need for peace-centered approaches in biodiversity governance and action. For youth, integrating peacebuilding into conservation is essential to foster a just, resilient, and harmonious relationship between people and nature. This presentation will share key insights, lessons learned, and best practices in advancing youth-led and intergenerational approaches to peace-positive conservation. This presentation is part of a panel titled "Youth Catalyzing Youth: Youth-Led Spaces for Environmental Peacebuilding", which has two other youth presenters.