Dr. Jane Goodall’s legacy lives on in the people whose lives she touched, who were filled with hope by her messages, and inspired to take action to protect wildlife and their habitat — the natural world.
Jane’s mission was to inspire hope and transform it into action — work she was doing up until her last moments. The Jane Goodall Institute will continue Dr. Goodall’s work. We remain steadfast in our commitment to her vision of a science-driven, integrated approach to protecting nature. Through the four main pillars of JGI’s work — we are creating a healthy planet where people make compassionate choices to live sustainably and in harmony with each other, other animals, and the environment we share.
Expanding Understanding through Wildlife Research
Jane redefined both science and mankind with her discovery that chimpanzees make and use tools. The continuum of discovery at what became JGI’s Gombe Stream Research Center continues to this day.
Jane first arrived in what is now Gombe, Tanzania, on July 14, 1960, to study wild chimpanzees. Her subsequent findings challenged scientific norms of the time, demonstrating that these beings have personalities, complex minds, and emotions.
Above all, she showed the world that there is not a sharp line dividing us from them; we are a part of and not separated from the rest of the animal kingdom.
Over 65 years later, Gombe remains a living laboratory — home to the longest-running wild chimpanzee study in the world. This groundbreaking scientific research has many applications and lessons, including everything from health and zoonotic disease to intergenerational tool use. With new technology like bioacoustics, Geographic Information Systems, and PCR testing opening up new ways of understanding the Gombe ecosystem, we continue to explore rich, complex questions about our closest genetic relatives.
Safeguarding At-Risk Species through Wildlife Rehabilitation
Jane believed all animals are sentient beings worthy of our compassion. Today, JGI’s Tchimpounga sanctuary in the Republic of the Congo is setting the standard for wildlife rescue and rehabilitation.
Throughout Jane’s life, she worked tirelessly to improve animal welfare for every species.
Her observations of chimpanzee behavior in the wild shifted public perceptions of animal sentience, and her advocacy even led to the 2015 U.S. ban on federally-funded biomedical research on chimpanzees. She also became a voice for the global movement towards plant-based eating for ethical reasons.
This ethos drives the work at JGI’s Tchimpounga sanctuary in the Republic of the Congo, which is now one of the largest animal rescue and welfare sanctuaries in Africa. Here, over 150 rescued chimpanzees and many other species receive best-in-class care. This is thanks to the dedication of Head Veterinarian Dr. Rebeca Atencia and her team, who are quipped to care for almost any Central and Western African species in need, from African gray parrots, to pangolins, and even a baby gorilla. They created the Chimpanzee Welfare Index to monitor the physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing of captive chimpanzees, and they have been sharing this approach with other institutions.
Creating Long-Term Sustainability Through Community-Led Conservation
From her earliest days in the forests of Western Tanzania, Jane saw that everything is interconnected — you cannot help the natural world without helping local people. This is the insight underlying JGI’s Tacare approach to community-led conservation.
As Jane learned about the threats facing chimpanzees across Africa, she progressively shifted her focus from field research to advocacy. In 1994, she and JGI launched the Lake Tanganyika Catchment Reforestation and Education (TACARE) project to slow the rapid degradation of natural resources by addressing poverty and supporting sustainable, alternative livelihoods in nearby communities.
Building on that project’s success, its name became JGI’s signature, community-led conservation approach, Tacare, which is now used in over 100 villages surrounding Gombe National Park in Western Tanzania. The Tacare approach has helped local communities restore the forests where Jane’s research began. Through long-lasting relationships with community members and local governments, we’re collaborating on solutions to key conservation threats and expanding this approach to communities around the world.
Inspiring the Next Generation through Youth Engagement
Most of all, Jane believed in the power of young people to make a positive difference. That’s why Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots provides young people with the resources to take action locally.
On a sunny day in 1991, a group of students gathered on Jane’s front porch in Tanzania to get her advice. They saw the complex issues facing the world and felt overwhelmed. Jane encouraged them to recruit friends and focus on the small and local actions they could take right then and there. Together, they created Roots & Shoots to supports the development of local action projects.
Now active in 75 countries and counting, Roots & Shoots empowers both the young and the young at heart to live as compassionate citizens. With professional guidance, a network of fellow changemakers, and funding from the Jane Goodall Institute, groups of all kinds are following Jane’s advice, and starting projects that help people, other animals, and the environment we all share. Jane often said that in addition to her work to expand our understanding of animals, she wanted to be remembered for Roots & Shoots.
Today and every day, we are reminded of Jane’s words: “What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” We at the Jane Goodall Institute know exactly what kind of difference we want to make, and thanks to Jane, we have a plan to get there.
To learn more about how you can honor Jane, you can visit JaneGoodall.org/RememberingJane
Image credits, in order of appearance: Norman Jean Roy, Kristin J. Mosher, JGI/Stephano Lihedule, Michael Cox, JGI/Fernando Turmo, Olove Domias Lwila, JGI/Michael Pandisha, JGI/Eric Guzzetta.
