Youth Empowerment through Environmental Restoration Initiatives

The outcomes from successful environmental restoration initiatives represent a multitude of benefits for participating local communitiesand the young people residing within them. Communities benefit from increased land value and the beautification of public areas through the establishment of healthy green spaces and corridors. Also， restored habitats allow for a renewed rise in biodiversity， which may have been previously lost due to human-caused impacts. Increased biodiversity in turn provides opportunities for employment for local young people through ecotourism， as guides for interested visitors. Ecologically， restored places encourage increases in populations of game birds， fish and other animals that are potential food sources for local people. Another often overlooked benefit of restoring habitats such as wetlands， rivers， and lakes is a renewed supply of clean freshwater.

It’s through involvement in environmental restoration projects and initiatives that youth can take an active part in the sustainable development of their local communities， with time being able to take pride in the places they call home and become responsible stewards of the land. Since local youth represent the next generations， encouraging them to take an active role in managing natural resources is vital to preserving the continued health of the environment and promoting sustainable development.

成功的環(huán)境修復(fù)倡議可以為參與倡議活動(dòng)的當(dāng)?shù)厣鐓^(qū)及居住其中的青年人帶來眾多好處。當(dāng)?shù)厣鐓^(qū)獲得的益處包括通過建立健康綠色的空間和走廊而得到的土地附加價(jià)值和公共場(chǎng)所的美化。此外，修復(fù)動(dòng)物棲息地可以保障重新實(shí)現(xiàn)生物多樣性，這一特性已在之前由于人類活動(dòng)的影響被失去。不斷增長(zhǎng)的生物多樣性反過來可以通過生態(tài)旅游為當(dāng)?shù)厍嗄晏峁┚蜆I(yè)機(jī)會(huì)，他們?yōu)楦信d趣的游客擔(dān)任向?qū)?。從生態(tài)方面來講，不斷修復(fù)的地點(diǎn)能促進(jìn)鳥類、魚類及其他可能被當(dāng)?shù)厝俗鳛槭澄飦碓吹膭?dòng)物在數(shù)量上得以增加。另外一個(gè)經(jīng)常被忽略的好處是，修復(fù)的棲息地，如濕地、河流和湖泊可以再次成為清潔淡水的來源。

通過參與環(huán)境修復(fù)項(xiàng)目和倡議活動(dòng)，青年人能夠在當(dāng)?shù)厣鐓^(qū)的可持續(xù)發(fā)展中發(fā)揮積極作用，逐漸地對(duì)他們稱作“家”的地方引以自豪，成為土地的負(fù)責(zé)任的管理者。當(dāng)?shù)厍嗄甏砹讼乱淮?，鼓?lì)他們?cè)诠芾碜匀毁Y源中發(fā)揮積極作用，對(duì)維護(hù)環(huán)境的持續(xù)健康和推動(dòng)可持續(xù)發(fā)展至關(guān)重要。

Successfully spearheaded environmental restoration initiatives geared at actively involving youth may develop into potential income generating ecotourism opportunities and small businesses. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) uses the following definition of ecotourism:

Environmentally responsible travel to natural areas， in order to enjoy and appreciate nature (and accompanying cultural features， both past and present) that promote conservation， have a low visitor impact and provide for beneficially active socio-economic involvement of local peoples.

Many areas around large settlements have experienced environmental degradation to some extent or other， and restoring natural habitats and ecosystems is a necessary step in helping to create sustainable income-generating activities such as ecotourism. By involving youth from start of these projects to their completion and ongoing maintenance， youth may gain an appreciation for the importance of preserving natural habitats and resources， as well as a sense of identity and a source of income.

積極促使青年參與領(lǐng)先的環(huán)境修復(fù)倡議活動(dòng)有可能發(fā)展成為潛在的創(chuàng)收項(xiàng)目，產(chǎn)生生態(tài)旅游機(jī)會(huì)和小企業(yè)。世界自然保護(hù)聯(lián)盟這樣定義生態(tài)旅游：

對(duì)自然區(qū)域的環(huán)境負(fù)責(zé)任，以享受、欣賞并推動(dòng)保護(hù)大自然（及其伴隨的文化特色）為目的，具有較低的游客影響，并為當(dāng)?shù)孛癖娞峁┯欣姆e極的社會(huì)經(jīng)濟(jì)參與的旅游活動(dòng)。

大型聚居地周圍的許多地區(qū)都遭受了不同程度的環(huán)境退化，修復(fù)自然及棲息地和生態(tài)系統(tǒng)是幫助創(chuàng)造如生態(tài)旅游這樣的可持續(xù)創(chuàng)收活動(dòng)一個(gè)必要的步驟。通過讓青年參與此類項(xiàng)目從開工到完成的全過程，以及隨后不斷開展的維護(hù)工作，青年將獲得對(duì)保護(hù)自然棲息地和自然資源重要性的認(rèn)知，以及獲得身份認(rèn)同和收入。

Environmental restoration initiatives represent tools to tackle both environmental problems and youth unemployment in one comprehensive package. Some examples of successful projects involve rehabilitation of riparian areas in lakes and rivers or wetland restoration. A project may be headed by qualified professionals and youth involvement may consist of field teams directly replanting denuded areas， for instance. Restoring a threatened or damaged habitat back to its original ecologically functional state also encourages youth to become aware of environmental/ecological issues and to feel they are making a positive difference in their communities and lives. In this way， successful restoration initiatives involving youth may include a strong training component， an educational component， a direct “hands on” component， and a methodology where they are shown how to turn these opportunities into income generating activities.

Other opportunities for youth empowerment through environmental restoration and protection may be found in UNESCO Biosphere Reserves. These serve three basic functions: a logistic function – “to provide support for research， monitoring， and information exchange related to local， national， and global issues of conservation and development”; a conservation function – “to contribute to the conservation of landscapes， ecosystems and genetic variation”; and a development function – “to foster economic and human development which is socio-culturally and ecologically sustainable”. Biosphere reserves are hubs of activity where youth can be involved in ecological research and other conservation activities， bridging the gap between development and preservation of the environment. Involvement in these activities may translate into economic gain and empowerment for youth， who may then become exemplary stewards of the land and examples for future generations.

環(huán)境修復(fù)倡議活動(dòng)可以一箭雙雕地處理環(huán)境問題和青年就業(yè)問題。一些成功的項(xiàng)目案例復(fù)原了湖泊、河流和濕地周圍的生態(tài)。一個(gè)項(xiàng)目可由合格的專業(yè)人士帶領(lǐng)，青年參與可包括重新綠化裸露地表的戶外團(tuán)隊(duì)活動(dòng)等。把一個(gè)受到威脅或被破壞的棲息地修復(fù)到其原本的生態(tài)功能狀態(tài)，同樣可以激起青年對(duì)環(huán)境生態(tài)問題的認(rèn)識(shí)，意識(shí)到他們正在對(duì)所生活的社區(qū)做出的積極改變。這樣下去，青年參與的成功修復(fù)倡議活動(dòng)包含了強(qiáng)烈的培訓(xùn)成分、教育成分、直接的“傳承”成分以及可以被展示傳播的如何將機(jī)會(huì)轉(zhuǎn)換成創(chuàng)收項(xiàng)目的方法。

通過環(huán)境修復(fù)和保護(hù)為實(shí)現(xiàn)青年賦權(quán)的其他機(jī)會(huì)或在聯(lián)合國(guó)教科文組織生物圈保護(hù)區(qū)可以找到。這包括3項(xiàng)基本功能：后勤保障功能——“為研究、監(jiān)督及與當(dāng)?shù)?、?guó)家和全球保護(hù)與發(fā)展問題有關(guān)的信息交換提供幫助”；保護(hù)功能——“促進(jìn)自然、生態(tài)及基因多樣性”；發(fā)展功能——“培養(yǎng)經(jīng)濟(jì)和人類的社會(huì)文化與生態(tài)的可持續(xù)發(fā)展”。生物圈保護(hù)區(qū)是各項(xiàng)活動(dòng)的交匯中心，青年可以參與生態(tài)研究和其他生態(tài)保護(hù)活動(dòng)，縮小經(jīng)濟(jì)發(fā)展和環(huán)境保護(hù)的差距。參與這些活動(dòng)或可轉(zhuǎn)變?yōu)榍嗄甑慕?jīng)濟(jì)收入和能力，他們也會(huì)變?yōu)槟７兜耐恋毓芾韱T和后代的榜樣。