FAO announces 50 Young Forest Champions to drive forest conservation and restoration on the ground

Rome  - The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) today on World Environment Day announced 50 Young Forest Champions who will receive support to help drive forest conservation and restoration in Ghana, Kenya, Peru, Uganda and Zambia. 

Ten champions from each country, all aged between 22 and 30, will be supported to gain the skills to restore forests, monitor ecosystems and protect vital forests through mentorship, capacity development, and the use of advanced technologies under the UK-funded AIM4Forests programme.

“When young people, who are at the intersection of tradition and transformation, are given the right guidance, they can do marvellous things,” said one of the forest champions, Prince Yakohene Dogbe, who already works helping to map cocoa plantations in Ghana.

The champions were chosen from over 1,500 applicants by FAO in collaboration with its partners the World Food Forum, Kenya Forest Service, Pontifical Catholic University of Peru, Forestry Commission Ghana, British Embassy Lima, Youth Go Green Uganda, and Zambia’s Ministry of Youth, Sport & Arts. 

“These are outstanding individuals – a dynamic and diverse group of young people eager to contribute to forest monitoring, conservation and restoration,” said FAO Forestry Director Zhimin Wu. “This initiative aims to empower them to drive transformative forest actions in their communities and beyond for people and planet.”

Building on Kenyan success 

The announcement marks the expansion of the initiative, which began in Kenya in 2024. Ten female Young Forest Champions, based in eight different counties, were selected and have been instrumental in engaging over 10,550 community members and planting more than 150,000 trees in forest restoration efforts since early 2024. 

Their work has sparked wider collaboration, contributing to Kenya’s ambitious goal of restoring 10.6 million hectares of degraded landscapes by planting and nurturing 15 billion trees by 2032.

What makes a champion

To be eligible, candidates needed to be resident in one of the five countries, aged between 18 and 30, and a university student or graduate with intermediate or higher proficiency in English. Knowledge of forestry issues and experience volunteering with local communities were not essential but considered an asset. Youth with disabilities and from indigenous backgrounds were encouraged to apply. 

AIM4Forests and its partners are exploring the creation of a global youth network to provide an ongoing platform for young foresters to collaborate, share knowledge, and drive impactful action beyond national borders. 

AIM4Forests is a five-year programme that aims to support forest monitoring based on modern monitoring technologies and technical innovation as well as the use of space data and remote sensing. The programme seeks to leverage technical innovation to create data and information that informs action to reduce deforestation and restore forests. It also seeks to ensure that capacity is transferred to countries including Indigenous Peoples who manage the forests, and young people who can bring fresh ideas and energy for local forest restoration and conservation efforts on the ground.