Eight journalists from around the world will get a unique chance to travel to Lima and the Peruvian Amazon to experience life in the rainforest, interact with commodity practitioners from all over the world, participate in technical sustainability workshops and dialogue, meet local community and indigenous leaders, access to UN and other experts and share skills as well as expertise with peers.

The initiative reflects the important role the international media plays in highlighting problems caused by deforestation driven by agricultural commodities such as palm oil, soy and beef. Despite extensive efforts over the past decade to slow tropical deforestation, in 2017 alone, the equivalent of 40 football fields worth of trees were lost every minute. 

Ensuring the survival of tropical forest ecosystems is paramount. According to the 40 scientists who authored last year’s landmark IPCC report, the protection and restoration of forests would achieve at least 18 per cent of the global emissions mitigation needed by 2030 to avoid runaway climate change.

The training open to journalist, from print, radio, online, radio/TV, photojournalism and video, will begin on May 11 with a two-day workshop in Lima, Peru, where the selected journalists will have the opportunity to debate ethics and test preconceived assumptions on deforestation and sustainable development. Journalists will be supported to build specific expertise, increase familiarity and a more nuanced understanding of key sustainability and development issues in major agricultural commodity supply chains.

After the workshop, they will attend a High-Level session at the Good Growth Conference on May 13th — where journalists will have the opportunity to interview global executives and regional government leaders — their journey will continue into the Amazon to immerse in the jungle for four days,

The training will also teach journalists how to translate scientific and financial jargon in addition to providing practical guidance on storytelling techniques and digital mediums.

The initiative aims to get to the bottom of the deforestation story, journalists must be empowered and equipped to engage on a deeper level. Underlying economic and political forces linked to deforestation need be acknowledged and further unpacked. Meanwhile, solutions and opportunities to reduce deforestation in commodity supply chains should be examined, critiqued and promoted.

To successfully complete the training, journalists will develop and publish stories focused on sustainable development issues, trade, politics, innovations, environmental science, land use and a host of other themes.

The winning journalists will receive air tickets from their country to Peru and lodging; and will be paired with relevant UNDP country offices and supported throughout their four-month reporting and information gathering process, access to a global network of contacts and encouragement from their workshop peers. Modest funding to support extensive in-country reporting is dependent on availability.

For detailed information on eligibility, requirement and application please visit “Good Growth Conference Journalism Training Initiative”.

The Good Growth Conference is promoted by the Good Growth Partnership funded by the Global Environment Facility, led by the United Nations Development Programme and implemented in collaboration with Conservation International, the International Finance Corporation, UN Environment and World Wildlife Fund.

Read more about the Conference: http://goodgrowthpartnership.com/ggc/