Noah Beshto
2026 Eco-Hero
HONORABLE MENTION
Noah Beshto
Age 10
Kyiv, Ukraine (currently residing in Baku, Azerbaijan)
Noah's Diary: Global Documentary Storytelling and Wildlife Advocacy
At 10 years old, documentarian and wildlife advocate Noah Beshto is using media to bridge the gap between complex environmental science and public empathy. Born in Kyiv, Ukraine, Noah grew up with a deep love for animals, often rescuing injured birds and questioning practices that treated living creatures as mere entertainment. Recognizing that ecological destruction and public apathy stem primarily from a lack of awareness rather than intentional cruelty, Noah launched "Noah's Diary" as a personal nature journal in 2023. Driven by the core belief that "we can't protect what we don't understand," he transitioned his diary into a public media platform on YouTube and social media in May 2025, turning his love for wildlife into an international educational tool.
Noah’s project quickly transformed into a multinational documentary initiative. Over six months, he undertook field expeditions across eight countries, including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Azerbaijan, where he currently films from. On his travels, Noah interviews prominent ornithologists, wildlife photographers, and global environmental organizations like the World Wildlife Fund to break down complex topics like species reproduction and ecosystem interdependence into accessible video diaries. His storytelling has achieved substantial digital reach, accumulating over 670,000 views on YouTube, while his production values earned him Runner-Up in the "Best Film" category at the Conservation Optimism Film Festival and a second-place award for an episode highlighting wetland ecology.
Beyond digital production, Noah converts his media influence into direct local action and wildlife rescue support. He partners closely with the Wild Animals Rescue Center in Ukraine (wildanimals.ua), filming their conservation efforts and directly raising awareness for a rescued lion named Khan. In Germany, his targeted community advocacy drew public attention to the mistreatment of urban swans in Berlin, securing institutional support from Greenpeace Berlin to advocate for responsible wildlife interactions. Noah also carries his message directly into primary school classrooms. His educational films on the ecological role of vultures and nature recovery have screened for young audiences, accompanied by interactive nesting box projects where students can observe live bird behavior firsthand.
Currently, Noah is pioneering "zoodiplomacy" and scientific research through field actions in Azerbaijan alongside mentor Dr. Elchin Sultanov. His team has deployed eight custom nesting boxes equipped with internal monitoring cameras to study the breeding cycles of barn owls and lesser kestrels, providing valuable data to the Ornithological Society of Azerbaijan. He is also spearheading the research project "What the Wind Brings," installing awareness signage across Azerbaijani semi-deserts to study how wind currents transport plastic pollution into fragile ecosystems. Looking forward, Noah aims to expand his veterinary care infrastructure ideas in Baku and translate his workshops into multiple languages.
"When I was little, it hurt me to see animals treated like objects for entertainment, and I realized people can't love or protect what they don't understand. Environmental problems don't care about national borders, and if nature doesn't have borders, then neither should our responsibility to protect it. I want other kids to watch my diary and realize that they can take action too, because we are the ones who will inherit this planet."
