STORIES & UPDATES · YOUTH
YOUTHGYBN Pacific Chapter launched — Pacific youth lead biodiversity action
The Global Youth Biodiversity Network has officially launched its Pacific chapter at a hybrid event hosted by SPREP, with PIRT members, partners and over 80 young Pacific Islanders convening to co-design the chapter's 2026–2028 work plan.
GYBN Pacific brings together emerging Pacific conservation leaders aged 18–35 across all 22 Pacific Island countries and territories. The chapter is convened jointly by SPREP, PIRT and the Pacific Youth Council, with secretariat support from PIRT.
Four streams of work
The chapter's 2026–2028 work plan covers four interlinked programme streams:
- Capacity-building — workshops on biodiversity policy, GBF implementation, environmental law.
- Youth representation — Pacific youth seats at PIRT working groups, conferences, ministerial meetings.
- Collaborative networks — connections with regional youth orgs (PYC, MIYV) + global networks (CYEN).
- Youth Ambassadors Programme — 2-year cohort placing 16 ambassadors with PIRT member organisations.
Application for the inaugural Youth Ambassadors cohort opens 1 June 2026. The chapter will host its first regional dialogue at the 11th Pacific Islands Conference for Nature Conservation in Noumea.