YCAN Samoa First Pacific Youth Group to Win Ramsar Convention Award for Young Wetlands Champions

Youth Climate Action Network for Samoa (YCAN) is the first ever Pacific youth group to be awarded the Ramsar Convention Award for Young Wetlands Champions. The award acknowledges a young person or a group of young people, between the ages of 18 and 30, who have long-term contribution and efforts to the sustainable use of wetlands within and beyond Samoa. The award received including a wetland trophy, a special price of US$10,000.00

Established as an official body in 2016, YCAN is a non-government organization set up as a result of youth from various professional backgrounds in Samoa who became inspired to implement climate actions within their community, gaining them both local and regional interest.

YCAN’s most notable achievements which helped them secure their win include mangrove rehabilitation and restoration through planting and waste removal; coral reef rehabilitation and crown of thorns starfish control operations; and overall awareness of wetlands, coral reefs and climate change adaptation and mitigation activities in local communities. These activities were carried out in the villages of Vailoa-Faleata, Fausaga and Faleula on Upolu Island, and Auala, Matavai-Safune and Puapua in Savaii.