Youth and Natural Resources Management

The practice of managing natural resources considers how civilizations have controlled access to or the availability of the resources they need to survive and thrive. Natural resources play a crucial role in our daily lives, providing us with food, water, energy, and raw materials. Despite these benefits, we face challenges of environmental degradation and climate change, and it becomes imperative to manage these resources sustainably. Using indigenous youth in Sub-Saharan Africa to harness the engagement of youth in Natural Resources Management, it was ascertained that utilizing young people through initiatives like Caring for Our Country and promoting formal education leading to a certificate in conservation and land management or a certificate in a related field. Establishing a mentorship relationship between older traditional owners and youth to facilitate the intergenerational transfer of traditional knowledge about concerns surrounding land management. And The National Green Jobs Corp programs in Australia provide Indigenous youth participation in the rehabilitation of ecosystem management skills and enables training in global positioning systems (GPS) technology, data-base applications, remote sensing, and other equipment used in natural resource management. They also offer opportunities for work experience, skill development, and accredited training to the youth within the green and climate change industries.