Indigenous Youth-Driven Forest Restoration Projects Demonstrate Resilience and Leadership
New and Refreshed Article:
With the planet heating up and the environment taking a beating, it's time for some fresh leaders to take charge. Step up, Indigenous youth! They're inspiring hope as they champion reforestation and reconnect with nature in a big way.
Indigenous communities have a bucket-load of wisdom, passed down through generations, about sustainable living. That's why they're the ones driving the charge in environmental conservation efforts. And who better to carry on this mantle than the young, passionate, and tech-savvy leaders of tomorrow?
Cultural Survival's Indigenous Youth Fellowship Program is backing these young change-makers every step of the way. These fellows are planting for the planet but, more importantly, they represent a cultural rebirth, eco-restoration, biodiversity preservation, resilience, and a spark of hope!
Dierson Piris Isasi (Ava Guaraní) from Paraguay
Dierson hails from the Mytuy community in Curuguaty, Paraguay, and is a teacher with a passion for his roots. He's also studying law, determined to fight for his people after experiencing racism and institutional abuse during his childhood.
Dierson’s project, "Reforestação e Educação Ambiental" (Reforestation and Environmental Education), aims to strengthen the connection between his community, the environment, and the future. He's successfully upped the local forest cover, while educating people about the crucial role of trees in combating climate change, preserving biodiversity, and enhancing overall environmental quality.
Workshops and talks led by Dierson equip community members with practical tree planting and care skills. The project unfolds in three stages: Planning, Implementation, and Monitoring & Evaluation. During the planning stage, the community picks the best spots for reforestation and develops learning materials. The Implementation phase sees a launch event, practical workshops, and educational talks kick off. The Monitoring & Evaluation stage is all about checking in on the health of new trees and gathering feedback from community members.
Johan Alexander Motta Vasques (Murui) from Colombia
Meet Johan, a Murui community member from Patio De Ciencia Dulce in Leticia, Amazonas, Colombia. For Johan, life changed in 2020 with the birth of his daughter and the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic. He's got diplomas in sustainable rural tourism and environmental management, and with inspiration from his elders' teachings, he's running for governor of his Indigenous territory in 2024, with a vision for a sustainable future for his people.
Johan established the Jofo Ananeko Indigenous Tourism Association in 2021. Its mission is to promote common good, equity, and the well-being of his community, while preserving tradition and ancestral knowledge. The association aims to protect Murui-Muina eco-ethnocultural heritage and ancestral rights, along with developing a collective economic model that respects both nature and their territory.
In collaboration with Cultural Survival, Johan focuses on strengthening community water systems. He applied ancestral knowledge and planted native species like Aguaje, Asai, Bacaba, and Camu Camu, to retain water, improve fish habitats, and ultimately, boost the well-being of his community. Johan recently gathered 20 community members, including elders who led discussions on water source importance, identifying native plants for restoration, and even cleaning up a kilometer of watercourse.
Harol Chujandama Apagueño Patrick (Kechwa) from Peru
Harol, a Kechwa from the Amazon in Peru, is an active supporter of his community, Tupac Amaru, and the FEPIKECHA organization. He works towards Indigenous rights and conservation by networking, advocating, and coordinating events. The community sees their land and culture as intertwined and pr True essence, working with journalists, communicators, and human rights activists to report on rights violations in the Amazon and collaborating with FEPIKECHA to defend Indigenous communities.
Tension in the jungle is escalating, with violence against Amazonian leaders growing. Harol calls for swift action and dialogue to protect brave souls and their communities as they fight for the planet. He believes that understanding this challenging context can lead to collaborations between civil society and the state, fostering innovative solutions for environmental protection and securing environmental leaders.
Cultural Survival supports "Visibilizar Para Resistir: Protegiendo a los Defensores del Bajo Huallaga", a project by Harol. It aims to tackle threats facing Bajo Huallaga communities in protecting their land, from loggers and narco-traffickers to corrupt officials. The project draws attention to the urgent need to protect Amazonian leaders, with Harol documenting testimonies of intimidation, illegal logging, drug cultivation, and apathy in government. Working alongside female community members and the San Martín regional government, Harol embarked on a reforestation initiative, collecting native seeds, cultivating seedlings, and replanting watershed headwaters.
As the climate crisis worsens, we need Indigenous youth more than ever. They know the secrets of ecological balance, have at least 15 generations of sustainable land management in their back pocket, and are eager to share their wisdom—if the world gives them the chance. So let's support these young leaders, empower them, and watch them grow a greener, brighter planet for all of us!
Science plays a crucial role in the work of Indigenous youth, as they employ environmental science to combat climate change through reforestation and educate their communities about the importance of trees in preserving biodiversity and improving overall environmental quality.
These young environmental leaders are also engaged in education and self-development, with many pursuing degrees in law, sustainable rural tourism, and environmental management, and running for political office to ensure a sustainable future for their communities.
