Background 

Indigenous peoples and local communities hold deep, intricate knowledge of climate, biodiversity and ecosystems that often stretches back over generations due to their sustained connection to nature through nature-based livelihoods (i.e., hunting, fishing, herding and gathering) and spirituality. Indigenous peoples own, manage, use or occupy about 25% of the global land and approximately 35% of all remaining terrestrial areas with very low human intervention. These figures increase substantially when contributions of local communities are accounted. Despite intensifying pressures on indigenous territories, nature managed by indigenous peoples and local communities is declining less rapidly compared to other lands (IPBES, 2019). However, indigenous and local knowledge, a key enabler for sustainable conservation, is at risk of disappearing. This loss of indigenous and local knowledge is largely associated with communities being displaced from indigenous territories, lack of documentation and a decline in transmission to younger generations.

Indigenous youth act as a conduit for indigenous and local knowledge – as custodians and vocal advocates, practising sustainable use of wild species as a key part of their identity and for their well-being. Indigenous youth today are navigating both traditional and digital spaces simultaneously. Yet, there are few avenues for their voices to be included in the dialogue and decision-making processes around nature conservation or in research and programmes. Therefore, this event has been designed to act as a platform to highlight some voices and lessons among indigenous youth who are leading the way in the adopting and amplifying solutions in the sustainable use of nature. p These themes are very much in line with upcoming thematic assessment on Sustainable Use of Wild Species undertaken by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), the foremost global authority working to strengthen the science-policy interface on the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and long-term sustainable development.