The power of young people in nature recovery

In a time characterised by worrying environmental news and increasing eco-anxiety, hope is not lost. Across the country and the world, young people are refusing to accept a future where large-scale nature-loss remains unchecked. Now is our opportunity to learn from, be inspired by, and, most importantly, include young people in how we shape the environmental sector going forward. We are breaking down traditional and often exclusionary ways of connecting with the natural world by rebuilding our lost connections through music, design, storytelling and social justice. We refuse to see nature in a silo and can recognise how human and environmental justice is inextricably linked, looking to Gaza and Congo where protecting and preserving land remains a powerful act of resilience.

To unleash this energy from young people, the environmental sector must adapt. A genuine green economy must prioritise inclusivity. Unpaid internships and the requirement for extensive volunteering must become a thing of the past, replaced with accessible entry-level positions. We must also ensure that young people who hold minoritised identities see a future for themselves in this field. We can look to programmes like the London Wildlife Trust’s Keeping it Wild traineeship, which sets a powerful blueprint for expanding participation to embrace young people who see nature as interdisciplinary, and are impatient to use their talents to drive its recovery. At Youngwilders, our dual mission of accelerating nature recovery and involving young people in the process and movement ensures we always take and create new opportunities to connect people to the natural world.

Put crudely, youth involvement is tactically sensible to ensure the sector thrives. Put passionately, it is a question of justice as it is young people who will live with the consequences of decisions made today. The 1949 National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act understood this, calling for greater access to nature for all. It is beautiful then that we return to the roots of the Act today to both celebrate this milestone and use it to shape our collective future.

Young wilders