Recently Published: Building our Future
Building our Future: Youth entrepreneurs in biosphere reserves in LAC
The first MAB project designed and implemented by youth from biosphere reserves has been a learning process. Of the 600 million people living in Latin America and the Caribbean, 25% are aged between 15 and 29 years old (ECLAC, 2015). This population includes future decision makers, and should therefore be an important focus.
The project has highlighted the need to generate sustainable socio-economic opportunities that contribute to protecting biodiversity while reducing unemployment and alleviating poverty.
Young people in Latin America and the Caribbean between the ages of 15-24 account for 29% of international migrants, many coming from poor rural areas (UNICEF, 2013). Initiatives such as this project are crucial to avoiding economic migration and generating capacity-building opportunities.
The challenge for the coming years for the UNESCO MAB Programme and its World Network of Biosphere Reserves is to create spaces for new generations and to strengthen their participation in governance and management of their biosphere reserves.
This will only be possible by supporting capacity building through international collaboration and exchange of experiences, in order to prepare new generations for future challenges.
