EU and its youth alumni mark World Mangrove Day, planting over 400 mangrove seedlings in Hera
DÍLI, 28 July 2026 (TATOLI) – The EU Youth Alumni Timor-Leste marked World Mangrove Day 2026 by bringing together young people, alumni, volunteers, and partner organisations for a mangrove-planting activity at Konservasaun Flora no Fauna in Hera.
More than 400 mangrove seedlings were planted as part of the campaign, “Stop Destruction and Start Reforestation.” The activity aimed to raise awareness about the importance of mangrove ecosystems and encourage young people to take practical action to protect the environment.
The event involved EU Youth Alumni, youth groups, and organisations including Youth Sounding Board Timor-Leste, Timor-Leste Youth for Peace, Timor-Leste Matak no Azul, Rotaract Club, Asosiasaun Juventude Hakbi’it Justisa Timor-Leste, JCI Dili, Green Guardian Timor-Leste, PARTISIPA, G-SIC Timor-Leste, and Conservation of Environmental Timor-Leste.
The EU Youth Alumni community brings together young Timorese leaders who have participated in EU-supported programmes and initiatives, including Erasmus+ and the Youth Sounding Board. The network represents a diverse and motivated group of young people committed to youth empowerment, education, good governance, environmental protection, and sustainable development.
The World Mangrove Day activity was organized in collaboration with Konservasaun Flora no Fauna (KFF), with support from the European Union through GOPA. Around 55 participants joined the event, including the Ambassador of the European Union to Timor-Leste, EU alumni, youth representatives, volunteers, and partner organizations.
Participants attended an educational session on mangrove conservation, toured the KFF area, planted mangrove seedlings, and took part in environmental reflection and documentation activities. The program combined learning with practical action, giving participants a better understanding of the role mangroves play in protecting coastlines, supporting biodiversity, and strengthening climate resilience.
“Mangroves protect our coasts, support fisheries, and fight climate change. For Timor-Leste, they are essential for a sustainable future”, said the Ambassador of the European Union to Timor-Leste, Thorsten Bargfrede.
The activity forms part of the EU Youth Alumni Outreach and Engagement Strategy 2026–2027, which was developed through participatory planning with EU alumni. The strategy seeks to strengthen the alumni network, expand youth engagement beyond Dili, develop youth leadership and practical skills, and build stronger partnerships with institutions and youth-led organizations.
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