Inaugural Youth In Nature Summit Unites Leaders Of Today And Tomorrow
26 Oct 2022 | No. 2022-46
More than a hundred young volunteers will join leaders from across the conservation sector this Friday (28 October) at the first ever BTO Youth in Nature Summit.
The event, held at Manchester’s Museum of Science and Industry, has been organised by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) with speakers from the RSPB, WWF-UK, University of Oxford, Butterfly Conservation, London Wildlife Trust, Reserva and Action for Conservation.
BTO has taken a leading role within the conservation sector in creating a diverse and engaged network of young people who will become tomorrow’s leaders. The BTO Youth Advisory Panel, comprising 12 volunteers under the age of 25, is at the heart of this work. Its members have devised a programme of talks and workshops that will demonstrate the value of embedding young people in conservation organisations and empowering them to drive youth-led change. The summit will also be an opportunity for young people to build connections with each other and with more established voices, sowing the seeds for future collaboration.
The organisers hope the summit will encourage leaders in the conservation sector to think more inclusively about young people, bringing them into their governance structures and creating more opportunities for meaningful engagement. As well as showcasing the work of inspirational young volunteers, the summit will also highlight the barriers that young people face when engaging with conservation and nature.
Visit www.bto.org/youth-summit for more information.
Professor Juliet Vickey, BTO Chief Executive, said: ‘I am often asked what gives me hope in the face of almost daily bad news for nature, climate and the environment. My reply is two things: the power of nature, given a chance, to restore itself; and the action and energy of young people.’
She added: ‘I am enormously proud of the determination and relentless hard work of the young people who have designed and delivered this important summit. And I am grateful to everyone who will join us on the day – that act alone shows that people care and want to make a difference for our wonderful natural world.’
Contact Details
Tom Stewart (BTO Media Manager)
Mobile: 07585 440910
Email: press [at] bto.org (subject: News%20release%20enquiry)
Mike Toms (Head of Communications)
Mobile 07850 500791
Email: press [at] bto.org (subject: News%20release%20enquiry)
Images are available for use alongside this News Release. These can be downloaded from this link for which you will need to enter the password Summit2022. Alternatively, please contact press [at] bto.org quoting reference 2022-46.
Notes for editors
BTO is the UK's leading bird research charity. A growing membership and up to 60,000 volunteer birdwatchers contribute to BTO's surveys, collecting information that underpins conservation action in the UK. BTO maintains a staff of 100 at its offices in Thetford, Stirling, Bangor (Wales) and Belfast (Northern Ireland), who analyse and publicise the results of surveys and projects. BTO's work is funded by BTO supporters, government, trusts, industry and conservation organisations. www.bto.org
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