The Generation Restoration Microgrants are a Youth Task Force-led initiative, made possible through funding from the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, with the collaboration of Plant-for-the-Planet and Green Canopy Enviro-care. (see respective logos at the end). 

The call was officially launched in November 2025 during the Youth Environment Assembly at the United Nations Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, and attracted strong interest from youth-led organizations across regions and ecosystems. The selected initiatives stood out from the 700+ applications received from around the world - a testament to both the global demand for youth-focused restoration funding and the high quality of proposals received.

This inaugural cohort of grantees reflects the diversity, creativity, and determination of young people working to heal degraded landscapes — from high Andean forests and savannah grasslands to wetlands, springs, and marine ecosystems.

From Grasslands to Forests: Tangible Restoration on the Ground

• In Tanzania, the Enduata Community Initiative Organization, led by youth applicant Ngaayo Mbekure, is restoring savannah grasslands through native tree planting and soil regeneration. The initiative focuses on reversing land degradation while engaging local youth in hands-on restoration activities that strengthen long-term stewardship.
• In Ecuador, Fundación Raíces de Amor que Sanan, led by Fernanda Vaca, is implementing Roots of Resilience, a project grounded in ancestral restoration practices within the Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve. By combining Indigenous knowledge with ecological restoration, the project reinforces both biodiversity conservation and cultural heritage.
• In Peru, QINTI Perú, led by Lizet Mejía, is restoring endangered Polylepis forests in the high Andes of Ancash. Through the Youth Guardians of Polylepis project, young people are safeguarding critical mountain ecosystems that play a vital role in water regulation and biodiversity.

Indigenous Knowledge and Community Stewardship

Several selected initiatives place Indigenous knowledge and community leadership at their core.

• In Pakistan, the Gilgit Baltistan Youth Assembly–YANG, led by Shamim Akhtar, is restoring natural springs and establishing native tree nurseries through the “Bosai” project in Bagrot Valley. This Indigenous youth-led effort addresses water scarcity while revitalizing traditional land and water management practices.
• In Benin, Pionniers D’une Nouvelle Afrique, led by Djéroile Demba, is restoring biodiversity at the Sacred Pond of Sinendé, a culturally significant site where ecological restoration and heritage preservation go hand in hand.
• Similarly, in Cameroon, Support Humanity Cameroon, led by Othniel Bungo, is restoring the Atokop water catchment, improving underground water recharge while supporting local livelihoods and climate resilience.

Innovation Meets Restoration

• Innovation plays a central role in several projects. In Portugal, TROVADOR, led by Sebastião Mendonça, is exploring the use of robotics to enable effective reforestation, while actively involving local youth in restoration processes.
• In Chile, Corporación Laboratorio de Ornitología y Ecología Social Territorial, led by Aníbal Concha, is restoring the Puerto Sur wetland, strengthening island community resilience through participatory ecological restoration.
• Cross-border collaboration is highlighted by Sylvester’s Wild Climate Club e.V., operating between Germany and Spain under the leadership of Hedda Werres, restoring a native Galician forest (Fraga) through community-led tree planting.
• In Indonesia, Anambas Kepulauan Indonesia, led by Afifa Windiyana, is pioneering a community-led marine stewardship model in the Anambas Islands, strengthening coastal ecosystem protection while empowering local communities.

Why This First Cohort Matters

As the first-ever Generation Restoration Microgrant cohort, these initiatives demonstrate the power of trusting youth with resources, leadership, and visibility. Supported by the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, the microgrants highlight how youth-led action delivers tangible environmental and social impact.

Karen Salazar, YTF Co-Chair, who led the official launch of the microgrants in Nairobi, said:

“Youth are not just future leaders — they are already leading restoration on the ground. This is a microgrant by youth, for youth, designed to amplify young people’s leadership across regions. We’re proud to show what youth leadership can achieve.”

Get Involved

Readers can support youth-led ecosystem restoration by:

• Following the UN Decade Youth Task Force on Instagram
• Joining the YTF network to connect with youth restoration leaders worldwide
• Sharing these stories to amplify youth action during the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration

The Generation Restoration Microgrants mark an important milestone for youth engagement in global restoration efforts - and this first cohort is only the beginning.

Collaboration partners: 

Plant-for-the-Planet and Green Canopy Enviro-care