Young participants from the province gathered on Tuesday, June 10, for a Summer Youth Camp that builds awareness, leadership, and environmental responsibility among Apayao’s next generation.
The Biosphere Reserve of the yApayaos (BRyA) was among the topics and focuses on the role of youth in protecting biodiversity and promoting sustainable practices in their communities. Participants were encouraged to view themselves as active contributors to ecological balance and local development and not as beneficiaries of conservation efforts.
Environmental specialists Marcelo Menor, Efren Parandit, and Forester Jasper Campos, all from the Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) of the Provincial Government of Apayao (PGA) led the discussions, and emphasized hands-on approaches to volunteerism, sustainability, and education rooted in local context.
The youth camp supports the broader goals of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme which encourages solutions that balance people and nature. By building awareness early, the activity seeks to prepare youth to take leadership in the long-term care of Apayao’s environment. By Diocen Tolentino
