Young people across the globe are spearheading the movement for a fairer and healthier world through activism, outreach and community-led solutions for ecosystems and livelihoods. Nature conservationist Jann Vinze Barcinal was selected from over 300 candidates as one of the 2024 Restoration Stewards, by international organizations the Youth in Landscapes Initiative and the Global Landscapes Forum to receive funding, mentoring and networking opportunities. 

In the program’s fourth year, Jann will be the 2024 Forest Restoration Steward. To deepen the impact of his project on grassroots strengthening through economic development, intersectoral collaboration and environmental conservation, he will be offered scientific and peer guidance, training, a grant of 5,000 EUR and other resources. 

Filipino Jann Vinze Barcinal, the founder and chairperson of Dulungan Youth, is a climate justice activist and storyteller devoted to mainstream community-led biodiversity conservation in Antique, Philippines. His work covers the conservation of the rufous-headed hornbill –a bird recognized by IUCN as critically endangered– as well as behavioral change through alternative livelihoods, ecological education, assisted natural regeneration and agroforestry.  

Along with Jann, six other young ecosystem restoration experts from Bolivia, Brazil, India, Kenya, Nigeria and Rwanda were selected for the one-yearRestoration Stewards program (stewards.globallandscapesforum.org) to restore drylands, mountains, wetlands and oceans in 2024.