Windhoek — Schools from all 13 regions of the country participated in this year's Youth Into Environment Symposium with the theme "Biodiversity for Development".

The two-day event was held at the Habitat Centre in Katutura, and various schools displayed their knowledge on pressing environmental issues such as climate change, global warming and biodiversity just to name a few.

Charlton Thaniseb, Junior Mayor of the City of Windhoek thinks this is a wonderful initiative by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) that will educate the youth on how to keep the world safe for the future.

"We as the youth need to learn more than just what we learn in classes, so we need such hands-on workshops to help us understand better. If we understand better, then we will be able to teach our children who will teach theirs," said Thaniseb.

According to Thaniseb, the symposium is responsible for giving the youth an opportunity as well as a platform to make worrying and challenging reflections on the level of the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

"Today, the ecosystems that sustain human survival on this planet are under massive threat worldwide. Changes to habitats, over exploitation of both renewable and non-renewable natural resources, as well as environmental pollution are reducing biodiversity and destroying the ecosystems compromising the benefits and services they provide," he said.

A group of students from Academia High School were at hand to analyse and provide their insight into the event.

"It is surprising that the government makes an effort but there are people who say (the government) are not trying," said a Grade 11 student.

Deputy Minister of Environment and Tourism Uahekua Herunga said that he had come to address the most important audience he had ever presented to, namely 'the youth'. He also mentioned how essential it was for the youth to reflect and heighten awareness and literacy on issues concerning biodiversity conservation and environmental protection.

"The world's youth now number more than one billion, which when harnessed properly, is a major human resource for economic development and key agents for technological innovation and social change," he added.

The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the year commencing August 12, 2010 the "International Year of Youth", with the theme "Dialogue and Mutual Understanding". Herunga then added that the youth are an asset and not a liability, "provided they are empowered and given a chance to rise to their full potential and contribute positively to society instead of being drawn into crime and antisocial behaviour for lack of alternatives".

The symposium provided a platform for youth with Grade 11s singled out to present posters and presentations to enlighten each other and establish an open floor for discussions and comments on relevant environmental topics.