Raising Awareness, Training, Passing It On: the JAE at the French National Biodiversity Conference

On Tuesday, September 29, 2026, as part of the Assises nationales de la biodiversité (French National Biodiversity Conference), a round table was held on “the different ways of raising awareness and training citizens on the challenges of biodiversity conservation.” This round table was designed, organized and moderated by the Jeunes Ambassadeurs pour l’Environnement (Young Ambassadors for the Environment, JAE).

A round table designed by and for young people

The project grew out of the commitment of Paul-Antoine Le Guillou, a young ambassador who carried it from day one all the way to the stage. Choosing the topic, building the program, bringing the speakers on board: thanks to him, the JAE were able to take their place at the heart of the opening of the Assises. On the day itself, he moderated 1 hour 15 minutes of discussion and debate, leaving plenty of room for questions from the audience.

To enrich the discussion, the JAE brought together four speakers with complementary perspectives:

• Christine Virbel, Chair of the Education and Communication Commission of the French Committee of the IUCN;

• Jérémy Beaurepaire, Head of Citizen Mobilization at LPO France;

• Khadouj Dramé, Head of Diffuz, Macif’s volunteer action network;

• Jérôme Lafitte, Senior Lecturer at the University of Tours and member of the Education, Ethics and Health research team.

  
  

The discussion followed a three-part thread: raising awareness, training, passing it on.

Raising awareness: making people want to act

It all starts with the desire to act. Jérémy Beaurepaire traced the evolution of the LPO, which has moved from an environmental education approach to genuine citizen mobilization, supporting each person in changing their habits. LPO Refuges, “More Nature in My Neighborhood,” Biodiv Sports: these are all programs that turn an interest in nature into concrete action.

One of these initiatives provided the link to the next speaker: installing water points for wildlife during droughts, an LPO mission offered on Diffuz. Khadouj Dramé presented this platform, which connects citizens with associations through volunteer missions. She notably described the journey of volunteers who, after a first mission, went on to commit long-term to an association: proof that a first step can lead to many more.

Training: understanding in order to act better

To act effectively, you first need to understand. Christine Virbel focused on educating the youngest: how to talk about biodiversity with pupils, with which tools, and above all how to avoid a punitive approach to ecology that discourages more than it mobilizes. Jérôme Lafitte extended the discussion to adults, drawing on research and on experiences abroad, particularly in Quebec. Jérémy Beaurepaire rounded out the picture with an encouraging observation: the growing success of ornithology courses, a sign that the desire to learn how to observe the living world is very real.

Passing it on: becoming a relay in turn

The last step, and by no means the least: passing it on. Jérôme Lafitte reflected on how to train citizens capable of raising awareness among those around them. Khadouj Dramé illustrated this dynamic with testimonies from Diffuz volunteers who, once involved, bring others along with them.

Christine Virbel brought things full circle by presenting the French Committee of the IUCN’s “One Health” kit and its Youth Working Group, which aims to turn some pupils into true biodiversity ambassadors within their schools.

A shared conviction

Associations, researchers, civic engagement actors: despite their diverse approaches, a common conviction emerged. It is by moving from awareness to action, and from training to passing it on, that everyone can play a part in protecting the living world. These are all concrete avenues, useful to citizens and to the local authorities in attendance alike.

The JAE’s message is clear: young people are not just an audience to be made aware and trained; they are already active players in this mobilization.

A huge thank you to Paul-Antoine Le Guillou for his commitment, to our four speakers for the richness of their discussion, and to the organizers of the Assises nationales de la biodiversité for giving young people a chance to be heard.