Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, GIZ India Office, New Delhi, India
neeraj.khera@giz.de
Go4BioDiv is an International Youth Forum, aimed at providing a platform for youth to voice their opinion on issues related to biodiversity during the global event of decision-making on biodiversity ñ the Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP). The 11th COP of CBD is being hosted by India this year, and will take place in Hyderabad in October 2012. The International Youth Forum Go4BioDiv will take place in parallel to COP with the theme ëConserving coastal and marine biodiversity for sustaining life and livelihoodsí.
Go4BioDiv 2012 is being organised by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), with the Wildlife Institute of India as the nodal institute, and in partnership with Deutsche Gesellschaftf¸r Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), IUCN, UNESCO, the ASEAN Center for Biodiversity, and other partners. A total of 35 youth (18-29 yrs) will be selected via an application process, which is currently open; the application material can be found at the website www.go4biodiv.org. Ten participants will be selected from India ñ one from each coastal state, and one representing the islands.
Go4BioDiv 2012 will have three phases: a Virtual Phase will start in April 2012, in which issues critical to coastal and marine conservation and coastal community livelihoods will be discussed among concerned stakeholders, especially the youth on discussion forums on Facebook and LinkedIn -International Youth Forum Go4BioDiv. The phase is open for the 35 Go4BioDiv participants as well as the wider community. The discussions that will take place in the virtual platform will shape further activities and the Go4Biodiv Declaration during CBD COP-11.
The Live Phase of Go4BioDiv will take place in India during the CBD-COP (6ñ19 October, 2012). In the first ten days of this phase, the participants will be stationed in the Marine World Heritage site of India- Sundarbans, and prepare for their interventions in the CBD COP. Participants move to the COP venue in Hyderabad in the last four days of this phase. During the CBD-COP, the participants will use innovative ways and means, which are creative and global, for spreading their messages on coastal and marine conservation, including a Go4BioDiv declaration. The third phase will be the Post-COP Publication Phase and follow-up with participants after they return to their respective countries/ states and spread the message of biodiversity conservation, while remaining connected with the virtual platform.
Website: Further details on Go4BioDiv, previous events, and the application process and material can be found at the Go4BioDiv website – www.go4biodiv.org.
Discussion Forum: Participate in the discussions on coastal marine conservation and youth involvement in conservation at our Facebook group [https://www.facebook.com/groups/youth4coastalmarine/] or LinkedIn group [International Youth Forum Go4BioDiv].
Facebook Page: Subscribe to the Facebook Page of Go4BioDiv [https://www.facebook.com/Go4BioDiv] to receive daily updates on the coastal marine conservation and youth initiatives.
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