Africanyouth4forests-from science to youth action for sustainable forests

Abstract

African forests are critical for biodiversity, climate resilience, and livelihoods but face mounting pressures from deforestation, land-use change, and climate impacts. The AfricanYouth4Forests (AY4F) initiative, launched in 2024, mobilises youth as agents of sustainable forestry through participatory science, digital tools, and policy engagement. Workshops in Kenya and Cameroon brought together young leaders, scientists, and policymakers to co-create locally grounded solutions, such as mangrove restoration, bamboo enterprises, digital conservation, agroforestry, and other nature-based enterprises. The resulting AY4F Combined Youth Declaration from the two workshops emphasises leadership, innovation, equity, and green enterprises. AY4F demonstrates youth capacity to transform ecological knowledge into action for inclusive green economies.

Published in

Development in Practice
2025
Publisher: ROUTLEDGE JOURNALS, TAYLOR AND FRANCIS LTD

SLU Authors

• Roos, Anders

  • Department of Forest Economics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Mark-Herbert, Cecilia

  • Department of Forest Economics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Political Science (Excluding Peace and Conflict Studies)
Demography
Soil Science

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09614524.2025.2596993

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/145562