SEVEN YOUNG MALAYSIANS TO PRESENT BIODIVERSITY PROJECT AT UNEP

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 18 (Bernama) -- Seven young Malaysians from two
environmental non-governmental organisations are representing the country at
the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)'s Tunza International
Children and Youth Conference in Daejeon, South Korea.

The group, comprising 12- to 16-year-olds from the Tree Theatre Group
and Yayasan Anak Warisan Alam (YAWA), is attending the eight-day conference
which kicked off Monday, according to a joint statement by the two NGOs here
Monday.

The seven youngsters are Jes Ebrahim Izaidin, Avelyn Lew and Jes Ismail
Izaidin from the Three Theatre Group and Vasan Wei Sheng, Syamil Iman Salem,
Siti Khairina Mohd Fikri and Kelvin Luke Petol from YAWA.

They will be presenting their project on "Save Our Biodiversity" at the
conference which is attended by 1,000 delegates from over 190 countries. They
were chosen based on several environmental projects such as the World Tree Day,
Save Our Biodiversity and Stand Up for Climate Change.

"They will showcase the NGOs' smart partnerships with local, state and
federal environmental agencies in working together to fulfil international
agreements such as the Kyoto Protocol, Ramsar International Wetlands Agreement
and Convention on Biological Diversity.

"The conference is significant as their input and resolutions will be
forwarded to the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference in
Copenhagen, Denmark that will decide on a new global agreement to replace
the Kyoto Protocol that expires in 2012," the statement said.

Apart from attending many workshops and field trips, the 1Malaysia
young eco-delegates will also be vying for the International Junior Board and
Youth Advisory Council membership at the conference that brings with it advisory
status to UNEP.

At the closing ceremony, the Malaysian delegates will perform the
traditional wayang kulit in an eco-play and song entitled "Empty Earth" that
tells the story of the need to protect and preserve biodiversity, especially
with Malaysia recognised as one of the 12 Mega Biodiversity locations in the
world.
-- BERNAMA