The Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) has selected seven young environmental leaders from Africa, Asia, and Latin America to participate in the 2025 Restoration Stewards program.
The program was launched in 2020 by the GLF in partnership with the Youth in Landscapes Initiative (YIL). It empowers young people to tackle environmental challenges in their communities while fostering global collaboration for sustainable land use.
Each of the selected Restoration Stewards will receive a EUR 5,000 grant to spearhead projects aimed at restoring degraded ecosystems, combating climate change, and promoting sustainability across various landscapes, from dry lands to oceans. They will also gain access to mentorship, networking opportunities, and access to the GLF’s platform of resources to support their environmental initiatives.
Among the 7 are three young Africans who have demonstrated outstanding dedication to environmental restoration in their communities. Tey include;
Ngobi Joel: Championing forest restoration in Uganda
Ngobi is a climate activist, educator, and rural development advocate whose work has been deeply involved in initiatives that improve environmental awareness and sustainability in Uganda’s rural communities. His School Forest Initiative mobilizes schools and local communities to plant food forests, which not only help restore biodiversity but also provide essential nutritional food for children and their families. In addition to promoting environmental education, Ngobi has created the Green Wipe Initiative, supporting young girls in making environmentally friendly, reusable wipes, and the Sustain Bin Project, which focuses on waste management and sustainable fertilizer practices.
Ngobi’s work highlights the interconnection of environmental restoration and community well-being. His projects are centered on addressing both climate change and the needs of underserved populations.
Sydner Kemunto: Restoring dry-lands and empowering women in Kenya
Kemunto is an Eco-feminist and climate justice advocate whose work focuses on the restoration of drylands and the empowerment of women in marginalized communities. Through her initiative Kijani Mtaani, Sydner is working to restore the degraded lands of Kaani, a dry region in Kenya facing water scarcity, land degradation, and food insecurity. Her project empowers marginalized youth and women with the skills and knowledge needed to engage in regenerative agriculture, environmental conservation, and sustainable livelihoods.
Her work also promotes equitable access to resources and boosts biodiversity, laying the groundwork for long-term ecological and economic restoration.
Zuhura Ahmad: Empowering Coastal Communities and restoring oceans in Tanzania
Ahmad is an advocate for gender and biodiversity leading the Bagamoyo Seaweed Farming Initiative, which focuses on sustainable seaweed farming to restore degraded coastal ecosystems. The project empowers young women in coastal communities by providing them with alternative livelihoods while also supporting biodiversity restoration and climate change mitigation.
In addition to her work with the seaweed farming project, Ahmad is the head of programs at the Women in Recycling Foundation, a Youth4Nature Global Ambassador, and a co-founder of the Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN) in Tanzania.
The 2025 Restoration Stewards program is part of the GLF’s broader mission to support youth-led initiatives in landscape and seascape restoration. By supporting these young leaders, the GLF is fostering a new generation of environmental advocates who are not only tackling today’s challenges but also ensuring a sustainable and resilient future for generations to come.
The Youth in Landscapes Initiative (YIL) is a global network of over 60,000 young people working on sustainability, landscape restoration, and environmental justice. Through Mentorship, networking, and knowledge-sharing, YIL connects young leaders with the tools and resources needed to scale their impact.
