Report of 5th Southeast Asia Youth Environment Network (SEAYEN) Meeting 2011 Biodiversity and Climate Change: Actions We can Take

By:

Muhamad Nizar Zulkarnaen Hasibuan

(Faculty of Forestry, Bogor Agricultural University)

Biodiversity describes the variety of life on Earth, which is essential for sustaining the living networks and systems that provide us with health, wealth, food, fuel and a range of vital services in our lives. Climate change is considered to be one of the biggest challenges faced by biodiversity today and is likely to become the leading driver of biodiversity loss by the end of the century. As human beings we are an integral part of this diversity and unique in that we have the power to protect or destroy it.

Biodiversity and Climate Change: Actions We can Take is the theme of the 5^th Southeast Asia Youth Environment Network (SEAYEN) Meeting, to be held in Singapore from 18 – 20 January 2011. Trough this activity, we were trying to share about what is Indonesian youth did for solving the environmental problem that happened in this world especially in Indonesia.

We were explained about two best practices of our activity that already done related to environment. The programmes are “Beat the Heat”, a trees planting and land maintenance programme in Megamendung, Bogor and “37^th International Forestry Students’ Symposium (IFSS)”, a symposium that was attended by more than 100 forestry students from all over the world to do many activities such as lecture forums, fieldtrips and excursion, conservation campaign etc, which all of activities were related to environment conservation.

We were also explained about plan project or activities that we could do during the next one year on climate change. Our plan is assisting community based renewable energy management and campaign and charity to increase environment awareness.

National Youth Advisor 2011 from ASEAN Region

During the 5th SEAYEN Meeting, the country representatives had elected the respective member as the National Youth Advisor. The term of office will be 1 year. Muhamad Nizar Zulkarnaen Hasibuan (student delegate from Bogor Agricultural University) was selected to be National Youth Advisor from Indonesia. The National Advisors will work closely with Tunza National Focal Points, network of National Youth Advisors and the Asia Pacific Youth Advisors.

All of the activities gave us a valuable experience by understanding youth role to conserve our environment and an unforgettable moment by gathering with other youth delegates from another country