AWARD: Honoured in Education for Sustainable Development

Voices from the Afforestation Frontlines Receives RCE Saskatchewan Award

The Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. (FSAAI) is deeply honoured to receive recognition at RCE Saskatchewan’s 18th Annual Awards for Achievement in Education for Sustainable Development, held on Friday, May 29, 2026. #RCESask2026

This award celebrates the international four-part webinar series Voices from the Afforestation Frontlines: Advancing Sustainable Solutions for a Resilient Planet, a collaborative initiative that brought together environmental leaders, educators, scientists, conservationists, and community advocates from around the world.

At the heart of this initiative was the inspiration and leadership of Frezer Yeheyis Tsegaye, whose vision helped transform a local conservation perspective into a global platform for dialogue, learning, and action on sustainability.

The Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. (FSAAI) is deeply honoured to be recognized with an award at RCE Saskatchewan’s 18th Annual Awards for Achievement in Education for Sustainable Development, held on Friday, May 29, 2026. The recognition celebrates the impact of the international four-part webinar series, Voices from the Afforestation Frontlines: Advancing Sustainable Solutions for a Resilient Planet.

The award represents far more than a single achievement. It reflects the power of collaboration, education, community engagement, and the belief that local environmental stewardship can inspire global action.

At the heart of this initiative was the vision and inspiration of Frezer Yeheyis Tsegaye, whose passion for environmental advocacy, volunteerism, and sustainable development helped transform an idea into an international platform for learning and dialogue.

An Idea Rooted in Connection

The concept behind Voices from the Afforestation Frontlines emerged from a simple but powerful realization: the challenges facing forests, biodiversity, climate resilience, and communities are interconnected, and solutions require voices from many disciplines, cultures, and regions of the world.

As Co-Facilitator of the Women Major Group at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Public Advocacy and Volunteerism Director with FSAAI, and a Women 7 Advisor connected to the G7 process, Frezer recognized an opportunity to bridge local conservation efforts with global conversations on sustainability.

The result was a webinar series that brought together environmental leaders, conservation practitioners, animal welfare advocates, policy specialists, educators, researchers, and youth leaders from across the globe.

What began as a conversation about urban forests and environmental stewardship quickly evolved into an international exchange of ideas focused on creating a more resilient and sustainable future.

From Saskatoon to the World

The webinar series highlighted how local initiatives, including the conservation work occurring within the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and George Genereux Urban Regional Park, connect directly to global environmental goals.

The four-part series explored:

Community Engagement in Conservation
Sustainable Human-Animal Interactions
The Role of Biodiversity in Ecological Resilience
Advancing Sustainable Solutions for a Resilient Planet

Each session featured distinguished speakers representing organizations and communities from Canada, Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the United States.

Participants explored how citizen science, biodiversity conservation, ethical human-animal relationships, climate action, youth engagement, and sustainable development can work together to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time.

Education Beyond Borders

One of the greatest strengths of the series was its ability to make environmental education accessible across geographic and cultural boundaries.

The webinars demonstrated that education for sustainable development is not confined to classrooms. It thrives in community organizations, citizen science projects, urban forests, conservation initiatives, and international partnerships.

Participants learned from experts working on biodiversity protection in Bolivia, animal welfare advocacy in Africa, environmental education in Asia, urban forestry in Canada, and sustainability policy through international organizations.

The result was a rich tapestry of perspectives that emphasized a common message: meaningful environmental action begins with education, collaboration, and empathy.

Advancing the Sustainable Development Goals

The series directly supported several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including:

SDG 13 – Climate Action
SDG 14 – Life Below Water
SDG 15 – Life on Land
SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals

The discussions highlighted how biodiversity, environmental stewardship, community engagement, and global cooperation are essential components of sustainable development.

More importantly, the webinars illustrated how local actions can contribute to international goals.

A tree planted in Saskatoon.

A species documented through citizen science.

A youth-led environmental initiative.

A conversation between experts from different continents.

Each action becomes part of a larger global movement toward sustainability.

Beyond the Webinar Screen

The impact of Voices from the Afforestation Frontlines did not end when the webinars concluded.

The project inspired a growing collection of educational resources, including interactive online quizzes, environmental awareness campaigns, citizen science initiatives, social media outreach, and educational articles designed to engage learners of all ages.

Recorded presentations continue to reach audiences through YouTube and digital platforms, extending the educational impact of the series far beyond its original audience.

The project has also helped foster new partnerships and collaborations that continue to develop in preparation for future sustainability initiatives, international forums, and environmental education programs.

A Recognition Shared by Many

While the award recognizes the success of the webinar series, it also honours the contributions of the many individuals and organizations who helped make it possible.

The moderators, speakers, volunteers, community partners, environmental organizations, and participants each played an essential role in creating meaningful dialogue and advancing environmental education.

The recognition belongs not only to those who organized the events, but also to those who shared their expertise, attended the discussions, asked questions, and carried the lessons into their communities.

Looking Ahead

Receiving the RCE Saskatchewan Award is both a celebration and an invitation.

It is a celebration of what can be achieved when people work together across sectors, cultures, and continents.

It is also an invitation to continue building bridges between local stewardship and global sustainability.

Inspired by the success of Voices from the Afforestation Frontlines, future initiatives are already taking shape. New partnerships, educational programs, workshops, and international collaborations continue to emerge, carrying forward the spirit of the original series.

The forests that inspired these conversations remind us that meaningful growth takes time.

Trees do not become forests overnight.

Likewise, sustainable development is built through patient effort, shared knowledge, and long-term commitment.

The recognition from RCE Saskatchewan affirms that education remains one of the most powerful tools available for creating positive change.

From the afforestation frontlines of Saskatoon to international sustainability networks, the message is clear: when people come together to learn, collaborate, and act, they help create a more resilient planet for generations to come.

For the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc., receiving this award is both an honour and a reminder that every conversation, every partnership, and every act of stewardship contributes to a larger story—one rooted in hope, resilience, and a shared commitment to the future of our planet.

ROOTED 2026 Conference (Resilience, Outreach and One-Health, Trees, Ecology and Diversity from the Afforestation Frontlines: Advancing Sustainable Solutions for a Resilient Planet), which expands our collective network toward an even greater global impact. Building directly on the success of the award-winning webinar series, this new initiative serves as a vital stepping stone toward major international forums, including the upcoming hybrid pre-consultation summit in Toronto this September 2026 to prepare for the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-8) in 2027. We invite environmental advocates, community leaders, policymakers, and researchers to join us in this collaborative space to share community-driven strategies, foster cross-sector learning, and advance ethical ecosystem resilience. Please visit the official event page at https://friendsareas.ca/events/ROOTED.html to register, contribute your voice, and join us on the frontlines of shaping a healthier, more sustainable, and interconnected planet.