When we think about forest conservation, many of us think about scientists out in the field, government authorities establishing policies to protect forests, and stewards taking action for the forest's wellbeing, but youth is equally important. Forests are not just trees. They are also the home to countless species, impact our climate and conserve soil and water systems that we all rely on.
One of the most powerful assets young people hold today is our voice. This is an exciting time because we have social media that will take a message to the whole world and you have many young people already raising awareness of the important issues related to the environment on social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. As the World Wildlife Fund has stated, "Young people are no longer just leaders of the future; we are changemakers now."
The Tree Foundation states that one of the best things we can do to protect forests is engage in sustainable actions everyday. For example, mitigate the use of paper, decrease meat consumption, buy sustainably corroborated products from the relevant certifying organization, and say no to companies that cause tree loss and support deforestation.
Education about forests is another important aspect of forest protection: both for ourselves, and to the community. Many people simply do not have the time or knowledge to connect how their choices are related to forest degradation. For example, would anyone ever believe that purchasing fast fashion and made of synthetic fibers would be connected to forests? The process of creating that clothing creates carbon emissions that are the driving force of climate change, which is change that causes tree loss.
There are an increasing number of youth-led initiatives emerging all over the world. As described in a World Bank story, youth from the Amazon region are on the front line of their own local forests' protection efforts. They signed up for training to monitor the forest, learned how to aggregate data from GPS and drones, and then worked with their community to sustainably manage forest resources.
In the United States, as well as in many other countries around the world, young people are also getting politicians and corporations to do better. Campaigns to protect forests, stop illegal logging, stop the cyclical trade policies that help destroy the planet, and so much more, are often activated when young people develop petitions, protest, and write letters to their government representatives.