CSU student, Hannah Smith, was selected to facilitate a youth session on landscapes and the green economy at the Global Landscapes Forum in Lima, Peru over the weekend of Dec. 6-7. The forum was an interactive gathering aimed at finding collaborative solutions to the world’s most pressing natural resource challenges. Twelve entrepreneurs from around the world were selected to lead these innovative discussions on land use, climate change, and sustainable development issues.

Only facilitator from the United States

Smith was the only facilitator from the United States and was chosen from a pool of 700 applicants to participate in this global conversation. Smith is pursuing her Master’s degree in conservation leadership from CSU’s Conservation Leadership Through Learning program in the Warner College of Natural Resources.  Smith is currently living in Puerto Maldonado, Peru where she is constantly pushing boundaries and actively discovering innovative solutions to pressing environmental challenges.

“Passionate about empowering youth’

At the event, Smith moderated a discussion session where she and a group of 18-30 year olds collaborated and presented ideas and solutions for a green economy. The goal is to form actionable, innovative ideas for integrated land use, ranging from local case studies to policy and practice solutions.  These key ideas were pitched to a panel of leading scientists, UN policy makers, and private sector representatives.

‘Dragons den’

The panel of experts is called the “dragons’ den”, which is loosely based on a popular TV series about entrepreneurs pitching business ideas to investors.  These experts will provided feedback on the ideas, which was incorporated and consolidated into a summary document presented at Day 2 of the Global Landscapes Forum.

More information

For more information about the Global Landscapes Forum, visit www.landscapes.org/youth.