Youth are being encouraged to embrace smart agriculture, particularly agroforestry, as a means of generating income while addressing climate change challenges. Initiatives are being implemented to support young people in agribusiness, mentoring them to sustain their ventures and make a lasting impact on environmental conservation.
One such program focuses on engaging youth in climate action, empowering them with the necessary skills and knowledge to promote agroforestry within their communities. Agroforestry plays a crucial role in restoring soil health, improving degraded land, and enhancing overall environmental sustainability. Since young people make up the majority of the population, they are seen as key players in solving critical societal issues such as climate change, unemployment, and food security when provided with the right support and guidance.
Mentorship efforts involve hands-on activities that expose youth to real-world environmental challenges, allowing them to be part of the solutions. During International Forest Day, young individuals actively participated in a tree-planting initiative aimed at restoring a disaster-stricken area. The selected location had experienced severe flooding the previous year, leading to significant environmental degradation. Tree planting was identified as a vital intervention to stabilize the soil and prevent future disasters.
During the initiative, five species of trees were planted, while seven others were propagated using seed balls in areas that were difficult to access. The event brought together local community members, representatives from environmental organizations, forestry experts, and students from multiple universities. These institutions played an essential role in engaging young individuals in practical conservation efforts and fostering a sense of responsibility toward environmental restoration.
Participants highlighted the economic and environmental benefits of agroforestry, emphasizing its role in creating employment opportunities and mitigating climate change through carbon sequestration. By conserving soil and promoting sustainable land use, agroforestry serves as an effective strategy to reclaim degraded ecosystems. Youth involvement in such initiatives is considered crucial, given their energy and potential to drive meaningful change.
Local authorities expressed appreciation for the initiative, recognizing its importance in restoring the area’s ecosystem. Community members also acknowledged the support provided by young participants, emphasizing that restoring the land would have been an overwhelming task without their involvement. The call was extended to other stakeholders to join efforts in reclaiming and protecting degraded landscapes, ensuring a sustainable environment for future generations.
