Generation Barents 2025 was the fourth installation of the youth conference – and the biggest one yet! The event brought together 80 engaged young people from the Nordic regions and beyond to discuss pressing issues of the Northern communities. Once again Generation Barents provided a platform for engaged youth to come together and learn, exchange ideas and most importantly contribute to positive change in local communities. Through the conference new friendships were formed, networks were expanded, and through it all the Generation Barents team worked tirelessly to foster a strong sense of community.

Opening of the conference. Picture courtesy of the Norwegain Barents Secretariat.

The conference was opened by BRYC Chair Kaljdi Dedej, Emma Munters of Skogsungdomarna, and Advisor at the Norwegian Barents Secretariat Elizabeta Vassilieva. The opening session set the stage for a day of collaboration, ideas, and inspiration. The importance of youth engagement in shaping a sustainable and united future for the region was particularly highlighted.

The day continued with sessions on youth engagement, civil security and preparedness, explorations of skills for the future, and workshops on priorities, ideas, and visions for the future. In addition to these sessions, the day was broken up with fun and games – from “Barents Jeopardy” where participants could test their knowledge of the region, to informal coffee chats during the breaks.

Barents Jeopardy. Picture courtesy of the Norwegain Barents Secretariat.

The final session of the day looked towards the future of youth cooperation in the Euro-Arctic region. At the end of an engaging discussion, the BRYC representatives from the three BRYC countries Sweden, Norway, and Finland, as well as BRYC’s indigenous representative signed the Umeå declaration. The participants of the conference were then invited to sign as well. The declaration reaffirms Finland’s motivation to participate in the BRYC cooperation, despite Finland’s withdrawal from the Barents Euro-Arctic Cooperation. The day was wrapped up with a conference dinner, with good food, good company, and beautiful music by Swedish singer Natalie Carrion.

Signing of the Umeå Declaration. Picture courtesy of the Norwegain Barents Secretariat.

The following day was focused on the management of the boreal forest in Sweden. The participants were taken on an excursion to two forest areas to learn about and reflect on how the forest could be managed to balance the various values and needs of future generations. Participants were taken to two similar, but different forest locations, where they were encouraged to take in the effects of nature, and learn about how the forest is being managed.

Emma Munters of Skogsungdomarna. Picture courtesy of the Norwegain Barents Secretariat.

One of the forests was the city forest of Umeå, Gamlia. Here the participants were taken on a walk through the forest to learn about the history of the forest, its use as a recreational space, and how the forest is maintained. The other forest was one owned by Svarte Swartling who together with his colleague Lina Selina from Norra Skog spoke about forest management in Sweden, and the life cycle of the forests. Here the participants also learned about reindeer husbandry, and the importance of the forests for the indigenous population of Sweden.

During the excursion, the participants listened to engaging presentations on the Swedish forestry model, production and ecosystem needs, reindeer husbandry, preservation, conservation, and the recreational use of forests. The day ended with future-oriented discussions on forest usage, and how to balance biodiversity, climate, indigenous rights, and other resource needs. These results were then presented to Staffan Norin, Head of the Forestry Department at the Swedish Forest Agency. The conference ended with a final dinner, where participants were able to further explore the networks they had made during the conference and continue some of the engaging discussions.

 

Pictures courtesy of the Norwegain Barents Secretariat.