IFSA & Rainforest Youth Summit (RAYS)
Partnership Establishment 2025

“We don’t just look for solutions—we become part of them,
through solidarity and partnerships, for a more sustainable future.”

— Prachi Shevgaonkar, Climate Entrepreneur and Founder of Cool the Globe

 

Figure 1. IFSA Partnership Establishment with Rainforest during RAYS 2025

Background

For more than five decades, the International Forestry Students’ Association (IFSA) has connected students and young professionals across the world through a shared vision: “a world that appreciates forests.” As one of the largest international networks for students in forestry, environmental sciences, and related disciplines, IFSA continues to create opportunities for knowledge exchange, professional development, and meaningful youth participation in forest-related processes at local, regional, and global levels.

Today, the need for such engagement has never been greater. Climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation are reshaping societies and ecosystems worldwide, with disproportionate impacts on vulnerable communities, particularly Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs), youth, women, and populations living in climate-sensitive regions. Addressing these challenges requires not only scientific and political solutions, but also a new generation of leaders equipped with the knowledge, skills, and networks to drive change.

Recognising this need, IFSA continues to strengthen its collaborations with organisations and initiatives that share its commitment to sustainability, conservation, and youth empowerment. Among these partnerships is the Rainforest Youth Summit (RAYS), a platform that provides young people with opportunities to engage directly with rainforest conservation, climate action, and sustainable development.

Enabling the Opportunity through RAYS

The Rainforest Youth Summit (RAYS) 2025 returns as a powerful platform for young people globally to engage with the realities of rainforest conservation and sustainable development. An initiative by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia, the summit positions Sarawak as a living classroom—a place where participants can directly experience the intricate balance between humans and the natural world. Centred around the theme “Living Landscapes: Charting a Sustainable Future,” this year’s summit delves into how communities and ecosystems are deeply interconnected. It recognises that protecting rainforests is not just an environmental issue but a social, cultural, and economic one.

What sets RAYS apart is its emphasis on learning from those who are driving real change on the ground. Facilitators from around the world, from grassroots organisers to conservation leaders, share their experiences in tackling climate challenges. The summit’s programme revolves around five thematic areas: biodiversity and ecosystem preservation, rainforest wisdom and traditional knowledge, sustainable development, youth advocacy and activism, and climate adaptation. These themes are brought to life through interactive workshops, thematic roundtable discussions, and dynamic plenary sessions, offering participants not only theoretical insights but also practical strategies for action. From understanding the ecological significance of tropical rainforests to exploring the role of indigenous knowledge in climate solutions, RAYS encourages participants to think critically and collaboratively about the pathways towards sustainability.

Crucially, the summit does not exist in isolation from the people who call the rainforest home. Held on the ancestral lands of Sarawak’s Indigenous communities, including the Iban, Orang Ulu, Bidayuh, and Malay peoples, the summit highlights the vital role of traditional custodians in preserving these landscapes. Their wisdom and lived experiences form an essential part of the conversations, reminding all involved that solutions to climate change and biodiversity loss must be both inclusive and just. As the world faces mounting environmental crises, initiatives like RAYS serve as a reminder that empowering youth with knowledge, skills, and cross-cultural understanding is key to fostering the next generation of environmental leaders. Leaders who are ready to chart a sustainable future for both people and the planet.

A Common Agenda

The foundations of the IFSA–RAYS partnership were established in early 2025 during discussions held alongside the International Forestry Students' Symposium (IFSS) Organising Committee Interim Meeting in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

Figure 2. IFSS Interim Meeting with RAYS 2025

Representatives from both organisations recognised a strong alignment between their respective missions. While IFSA focuses on empowering students and young professionals in forestry and environmental sciences worldwide, RAYS provides a practical platform through which young people can engage with rainforest conservation, sustainability, and climate action.

These initial discussions centred on how both organisations could work together to expand opportunities for youth participation, strengthen regional engagement, and create pathways for collaboration beyond a single event or programme. As such, what began as a conversation about shared values soon evolved into a broader vision for long-term cooperation.

Globally Connected, Locally Grounded

One of the strengths of both IFSA and RAYS lies in their ability to connect global perspectives with local realities. Throughout the partnership-building process, collaboration extended beyond formal meetings and institutional discussions. Local engagement activities, including outreach sessions with students at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, demonstrated how global initiatives can be translated into meaningful local action. These activities provided opportunities to introduce RAYS to forestry students, facilitate discussions on youth advocacy, and explore avenues for future participation.

This approach reflects a shared belief that effective environmental leadership must be rooted in local experiences while remaining connected to global conversations. By bridging these two dimensions, IFSA and RAYS seek to create opportunities that are both internationally relevant and locally impactful.

Figure 3. RAYS Collaboration Workshop with IFSA LC UGM

Formalising the Partnership

To strengthen this shared commitment, IFSA and RAYS formally signed a two-year Letter of Agreement (LoA) in 2025, establishing a framework for cooperation and joint action.

The agreement marks the beginning of a strategic partnership designed to foster youth leadership, support rainforest conservation, and expand opportunities for collaboration between both organisations. The partnership focuses on four principal areas:

  • Research Collaboration: Both organisations will explore opportunities for joint research initiatives relating to sustainability, biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, and forest-related challenges.
  • Event Support: IFSA and RAYS will collaborate in organising, promoting, and supporting workshops, side events, panel discussions, and other educational
    activities that advance their shared objectives.
  • Youth Engagement: A central pillar of the partnership is the empowerment of young people through mentorship, networking opportunities, leadership
    development, and meaningful participation in environmental processes.
  • Mutual Promotion: Both organisations have committed to supporting one another through coordinated communication efforts, including social media campaigns, website features, newsletters, and event promotion.
  • Mentorship and Capacity Building: Beyond event participation, the partnership creates opportunities for IFSA members and IFSS organisers to develop practical skills in areas such as youth advocacy, stakeholder engagement, event management, and community engagement.

 

RAYS 2025: Marking a New Chapter of Collaboration

Figure 4. IFSA Partnership Meeting with RAYS and Partners (Sarawak Tourism Board; Cool
The Globe; Habitat Foundation; WFF Malaysia, AYO Asean, Unitas Communications, University Malaysia Sarawak)

At a time when climate and biodiversity discussions are becoming increasingly fragmented, young people are often invited into global conversations without being given meaningful opportunities to shape them. Yet the future of the world's rainforests, and the communities that depend upon them, will be determined by decisions made across sectors, generations, and borders. Creating spaces where youth can engage substantively with these challenges is therefore not simply desirable; it is essential.

Through the IFSA–RAYS partnership, students and young professionals are able to move beyond observation and into active participation. By engaging directly with Indigenous leaders, conservation practitioners, researchers, policymakers, and fellow youth from across the world, participants gain first-hand insight into the realities of rainforest conservation and sustainable development. The experience connects global environmental challenges with local perspectives, fostering a deeper understanding of the social, cultural, economic, and ecological dimensions of sustainability.

This formal partnership came to life during the RAYS 2025 event, held in Kuching, Malaysia from 18 to 20 th of June 2025, where IFSA delegates took part both as participants and volunteers. Delegates contributed to the facilitation of workshop sessions and actively engaged in plenary meetings, roundtables, group discussions, and partnership dialogues, strengthening the collaborative spirit between the two organisations.

Future Visioning between RAYS and IFSA: What’s Next?

Figure 5. RAYS Delegates from Indonesia 2025

 

The collaboration has already created new opportunities within IFSA, including the establishment of a dedicated sub-commission to strengthen engagement on climate and sustainability issues, while opening doors for members to connect with partners, practitioners, and fellow youth leaders beyond the traditional forestry sphere. The first year of collaboration also laid important foundations through joint sessions, stakeholder engagement, networking opportunities, and recognition of shared commitments towards rainforest conservation and youth empowerment.

Looking ahead, RAYS 2026 presents an opportunity to deepen that engagement. Under the theme & Youth: Many Ways, One Planet &, the summit recognises that addressing today & environmental challenges requires diverse perspectives, knowledge systems, and forms of leadership. More than ten IFSA delegates are expected to participate this year, contributing not only as attendees but as facilitators, advocates, and emerging professionals who can bridge local experiences with global conversations on forests, climate, and sustainability. For IFSA, this reflects a growing commitment to ensuring that forestry students are present in broader environmental dialogues and equipped to contribute meaningfully to them.

Beyond 2026, both organisations share an ambition to expand opportunities for collaboration across regions. As IFSA &  global network continues to grow, the partnership creates possibilities for future engagement in member countries, strengthening connections between rainforest communities, youth leaders, and sustainability practitioners. Ultimately, the vision extends beyond annual participation in a summit; it is about building a lasting network of young changemakers capable of translating knowledge into action and fostering more inclusive, locally grounded approaches to environmental stewardship.

Annex I. Acknowledgements

The development and formalisation of the IFSA–RAYS partnership was supported by numerous members across the IFSA network. The following individuals played a leading role in facilitating discussions, coordination, and partnership development:

  •  Rizka Afif Muhammad (External Councilor 2024/2025)
  • Fiana Eka Aprilia (Membership Councilor 2024/2025)
  • Faiha Azka Azzahira (Head of 2024/2025UNFCCC Sub-Commission 2025)
  • Nilo Wijaya (Head of CIFOR-ICRAF Sub-Commission 2024/2025)
  • Wening Ila Idzatilangi (Executive Director of IFSS 2025)
  • Rayvanda Walyafi (Head of RAYS Delegation 2025)
  • Dee Alexandra Madina (Vice Head of RAYS Delegation 2025)
  • Ferizta Hardika Putri (Delegate; IFSA LC UGM)
  • Rohman Juleo Pratama (Delegate; IFSA LC UGM)
  • Canakya Galerita (Delegate; IFSA LC IPB)
  • Annisa Nur Fadillah (Delegate; IFSA LC IPB)
  • Tiara Ulfa Agiki (Delegate; IFSA LC IPB)
  • Ramadaniasakina Tsuzuki (Delegate; IFSA LC IPB)
  • Intan Nur Rahmadhanti (Delegate; IFSA LC IPB)
  • Nayma Rihanna Jasmine (Delegate; IFSA LC IPB)

We also extend our appreciation to the many IFSA Board and members, volunteers, RAYS delegates, and organisers whose support and engagement have helped transform this partnership from an idea into a growing platform for youth action and rainforest stewardship, for a world that appreciates forests.