East Atlantic Flyway Youth Forum 2025
Online (Zoom)
Young conservation leaders across the East Atlantic Flyway will gather this October for the 4th East Atlantic Flyway Youth Forum (EAFYF), a two-day online event dedicated to translating global environmental agreements into local action.
Under the theme “From Policy to Practice: Bringing the Ramsar COP to Life,” this year’s forum will focus on the outcomes of the 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar). As the world grapples with the intertwined crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, the role of youth in implementing multilateral environmental agreements has never been more critical.
Organised by the Common Wadden Sea Secretariat (CWSS), Migratory Birds for People (MBP), and Youth Engaged in Wetlands (YEW), the forum will provide a platform for young people aged 18–30 to deepen their understanding of the Convention on Wetlands and co-develop ideas to support its implementation across the Flyway.
With simultaneous interpretation in English and French, the event is open to young people from coastal countries along the East Atlantic Flyway who are already active or eager to get involved in wetland and migratory waterbird conservation.
| Register here |
Why It Matters
The East Atlantic Flyway connects communities and ecosystems from the Arctic to southern Africa, supporting millions of migratory birds and the people who depend on the same wetlands. Decisions taken at Ramsar COP15, held earlier this year under the theme “Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future,” are directly relevant to youth who will carry forward this legacy of protection.
As highlighted in the 2022 EAFYF Call for Action, “the effects we feel today will be much more felt in the future, and the people most affected will be the youth of today.”
Forum Highlights
Over two interactive days, participants will:
- Explore Ramsar COP15 decisions and their implications for Flyway conservation
- Hear from young practitioners working in Ramsar sites across the Flyway
- Learn from Youth Focal Points and Ramsar-linked initiatives
- Join breakout sessions to co-create practical youth-led actions for implementation
- Build networks across countries, cultures, and conservation disciplines
The EAFYF 2025 will serve as a launchpad for meaningful youth engagement in international environmental processes, ensuring that commitments made on paper translate into action on the ground.
Programme
11 October
| Time (CEST) | Session |
|---|---|
| 11:00-11:10 | Launch of the FYF 2025 |
| 11:10-11:20 | Icebreaker |
| 11:20-12:00 |
SETTING THE SCENE Introduction to the Convention on Wetlands and its link to the conservation of the East Atlantic Flyway - Gbenou Justin Didolanvi Youth presentations: Introduction to Ramsar sites along the East Atlantic Flyway participants - EAFYF applicants (tbc) |
| 12:00-12:15 | Break |
| 12:15-13:15 |
SESSION 1: COP decisions Youth resolution (23.19) - Thandeka Ndlela Flyway resolution (23.16) - Peter Njeru |
| 13:15-14:00 | Break |
| 14:00-14:40 |
SESSION 2: Youth involvement in the Convention on Wetlands Presentations on youth activities in Ramsar sites/linked to Ramsar - Thandeka Ndlela, Moritz Röhlke, Elise Allély-Fermé |
| 14:40-15:00 | Open discussion and closure of Day 1 |
12 October
| Time (CEST) | Session |
|---|---|
| 11:00-11:05 | Introduction to the day - Expectations |
| 11:05-12:05 |
SESSION 3: Policy to practice (part 1) - Melike Hemmami Wall of Dreams Introduction to MEAs and national linkages Stakeholder mapping |
| 12:05-12:20 | Break |
| 12:20-13:20 |
SESSION 4: Policy to practice (part 2) - Melike Hemmami Stakeholder mapping Lobby and Advocacy Action design |
| 13:20-14:00 | Break |
| 14:00-15:00 |
SESSION 5: Youth experiences World Café: How to move forward? - Joie Didier Sossoukpe |
Contact & Registration
Young people interested in joining the forum are encouraged to apply. Priority will be given to returning EAFYF participants and youth with experience in flyway conservation, including research, site management, education, or communications.
Main Contacts
- Wadden Sea Flyway Initiative: Kristine Meise – wsfi@waddensea-secretariat.org
- Migratory Birds for People: Connor Walsh – wli@wwt.org.uk
- Youth Engaged in Wetlands: Hugo Ferreira – youthengagedinwetlands@gmail.com
| Register here |