Home / Recent news / Kazakhstan’s youth for biodiversity: On the road to COP17
Kazakhstan’s youth for biodiversity: On the road to COP17
Home / Recent news / Kazakhstan’s youth for biodiversity: On the road to COP17
Kazakhstan’s youth for biodiversity: On the road to COP17
- Kazakhstan’s newly established GYBN Chapter participated in two national youth consultations on biodiversity and COP17 preparations, facilitated by the Accelerator’s national facilitator Kumar Kylychev
- Young participants expressed a clear desire to active contributors through citizen science, monitoring, and biodiversity planning
- A nationwide youth survey is now underway to develop a Youth Statement for COP17 in Yerevan, Armenia, in October 2026
In Kazakhstan, biodiversity is finding a powerful new constituency: young people. Kumar Kylychev, the Accelerator’s national facilitator for Kazakhstan, recently engaged with the newly established GYBN (Global Youth Biodiversity Network) Kazakhstan Chapter, participating in two youth consultations dedicated to biodiversity and preparations for CBD COP17, to be held in Yerevan, Armenia, from 19 to 30 October 2026.
A growing youth movement
The establishment of an active GYBN Chapter in Kazakhstan is an important achievement in itself. The network is growing, bringing together young volunteers from across the country who are ready to contribute their time, ideas, and energy to protecting biodiversity and building a more responsible relationship with the living world.
The consultations gave participants an understanding of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and how global commitments translate into national policies and practical action. Participants explored how practices from other countries, including citizen science, environmental education, biodiversity monitoring, and volunteering in support of protected areas, could be adapted to the Kazakhstan context.
What impressed Kumar most was not only the level of interest, but the quality and seriousness of the questions raised.
Young people expressed a clear desire to be involved not simply as observers, but as active contributors — participating in biodiversity planning, monitoring implementation and contributing to decision-making.
Why youth participation matters
The Global Biodiversity Framework is explicit on the importance of youth participation. Target 22 recognises children and youth among the groups whose full, equitable, inclusive, and effective participation in biodiversity-related decision-making must be ensured. Kazakhstan’s national biodiversity framework reflects this same commitment to broad societal engagement.
Beyond policy, Kumar sees a longer-term significance: “A strong youth biodiversity movement can help develop a new generation of researchers, conservation practitioners, public servants, environmental professionals, civil society leaders and informed citizens.”
A youth voice at COP17
GYBN Kazakhstan is now conducting a nationwide youth survey on biodiversity. The results will inform a Youth Statement through which young Kazakhstanis aim to share their priorities and ideas with the international community at COP17.
This engagement resonates with Kazakhstan’s own cultural values. The concept of tazalyq — cleanliness or purity in Kazakh — carries meaning well beyond the physical environment, encompassing integrity, responsibility, and respect for the land. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has linked this spirit with environmental stewardship, civic responsibility, and the duty to educate a generation that respects nature. A traditional saying captures it well: “If you see a spring, help it flow freely.”
2026: A year to act
This momentum arrives at a timely moment. 2026 is the United Nations International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development. It is a global opportunity to expand the role of volunteers in sustainable development, including biodiversity. Kazakhstan was among the countries that actively championed the initiative leading to its proclamation.
Young people across all regions of Kazakhstan who care about nature are encouraged to connect with GYBN Kazakhstan and become part of this growing community.
Follow the GYBN Kazakhstan Chapter’s progress and stay connected with biodiversity action from Kazakhstan at nbsapaccelerator.org and linkedin.com/company/nbsap-accelerator/.
- Kazakhstan’s newly established GYBN Chapter participated in two national youth consultations on biodiversity and COP17 preparations, facilitated by the Accelerator’s national facilitator Kumar Kylychev
- Young participants expressed a clear desire to active contributors through citizen science, monitoring, and biodiversity planning
- A nationwide youth survey is now underway to develop a Youth Statement for COP17 in Yerevan, Armenia, in October 2026
In Kazakhstan, biodiversity is finding a powerful new constituency: young people. Kumar Kylychev, the Accelerator’s national facilitator for Kazakhstan, recently engaged with the newly established GYBN (Global Youth Biodiversity Network) Kazakhstan Chapter, participating in two youth consultations dedicated to biodiversity and preparations for CBD COP17, to be held in Yerevan, Armenia, from 19 to 30 October 2026.
A growing youth movement
The establishment of an active GYBN Chapter in Kazakhstan is an important achievement in itself. The network is growing, bringing together young volunteers from across the country who are ready to contribute their time, ideas, and energy to protecting biodiversity and building a more responsible relationship with the living world.
The consultations gave participants an understanding of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and how global commitments translate into national policies and practical action. Participants explored how practices from other countries, including citizen science, environmental education, biodiversity monitoring, and volunteering in support of protected areas, could be adapted to the Kazakhstan context.
What impressed Kumar most was not only the level of interest, but the quality and seriousness of the questions raised.
Young people expressed a clear desire to be involved not simply as observers, but as active contributors — participating in biodiversity planning, monitoring implementation and contributing to decision-making.
Why youth participation matters
The Global Biodiversity Framework is explicit on the importance of youth participation. Target 22 recognises children and youth among the groups whose full, equitable, inclusive, and effective participation in biodiversity-related decision-making must be ensured. Kazakhstan’s national biodiversity framework reflects this same commitment to broad societal engagement.
Beyond policy, Kumar sees a longer-term significance: “A strong youth biodiversity movement can help develop a new generation of researchers, conservation practitioners, public servants, environmental professionals, civil society leaders and informed citizens.”
A youth voice at COP17
GYBN Kazakhstan is now conducting a nationwide youth survey on biodiversity. The results will inform a Youth Statement through which young Kazakhstanis aim to share their priorities and ideas with the international community at COP17.
This engagement resonates with Kazakhstan’s own cultural values. The concept of tazalyq — cleanliness or purity in Kazakh — carries meaning well beyond the physical environment, encompassing integrity, responsibility, and respect for the land. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has linked this spirit with environmental stewardship, civic responsibility, and the duty to educate a generation that respects nature. A traditional saying captures it well: “If you see a spring, help it flow freely.”
2026: A year to act
This momentum arrives at a timely moment. 2026 is the United Nations International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development. It is a global opportunity to expand the role of volunteers in sustainable development, including biodiversity. Kazakhstan was among the countries that actively championed the initiative leading to its proclamation.
Young people across all regions of Kazakhstan who care about nature are encouraged to connect with GYBN Kazakhstan and become part of this growing community.
Follow the GYBN Kazakhstan Chapter’s progress and stay connected with biodiversity action from Kazakhstan at nbsapaccelerator.org and linkedin.com/company/nbsap-accelerator/.
The NBSAP Accelerator Partnership is a country-led initiative that supports the implementation of NBSAPs to collectively achieve the goals and targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. It is co-chaired by Colombia and Germany, supported by the governments of Germany, Norway, Canada and France, and coordinated by a Global Coordination Unit hosted by the Secretariat of the CBD, UNDP and UNEP.
The NBSAP Accelerator Partnership is a country-led initiative that supports the implementation of NBSAPs to collectively achieve the goals and targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. It is co-chaired by Colombia and Germany, supported by the governments of Germany, Norway, Canada and France, and coordinated by a Global Coordination Unit hosted by the Secretariat of the CBD, UNDP and UNEP.
