The UN International Year of Biodiversity 2010 provides a wonderful opportunity to highlight the huge threats that are facing biodiversity in Ireland and around the world. ECO-UNESCO aims to inspire young people to become actively involved in environmental conservation and their own personal development. We were delighted with the response and the fact that the event was over-subscribed for a third year running shows an increasing level of interest from Ireland’s young people. This Forum will give young people the opportunity to have important conversations with each other, as well as with influential policy makers and community leaders,” explains Elaine Nevin, ECO-UNESCO National Director.

Life, Camera, Action! A youth exhibition highlighting biodiversity through photography and film will be unveiled in The Greenhouse during the ECO-Forum. Young people from all over Ireland submitted excellent films and pictures highlighting the wonderful diversity of life around them. The interactive exhibition will be on public display in The Greenhouse for the coming months.

Following the day, young participants will carry out local environmental action projects as part of ECO-UNESCO’s Young Environmentalist Awards programme, before the end of February 2011.

ECO-UNESCO’s National Youth ECO-Forum 2010: ‘World Wild Web; Young People Exploring Biodiversity’ will take place on Wednesday, 24 November at The Greenhouse, 17 St Andrew St, Dublin 2 from 9:30am-5:00pm.

For schools and youth groups who want to take ECO-Action, but missed out on this year’s National Youth ECO-Forum, there’s still time to register for the ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards.

For more information visit www.ecounesco.ie or call 01 662 5491.