Case for Support Spring Hill Road, Suite 550, Vienna, VA Tel: Fax:

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1 Case for Support 1595 Spring Hill Road, Suite 550, Vienna, VA Tel: Fax:

2 Opportunity: The Congo Conservation Challenge We stand on the threshold of a future without chimpanzees and other great apes. Where chimpanzees once numbered 1-2 million in the wild, today fewer than 300,000 remain (Source: IUCN). While their numbers are spread across some 22 countries in central and western Africa, approximately 77 percent of remaining chimpanzee populations live in the Congo Basin rainforest, which spans most of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Republic of Congo (Congo), as well as parts of the Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Cameroon. A key factor in the loss of wild chimpanzees is destruction of habitat. Africa loses more than 10 million acres of forest every year, twice the world s deforestation rate (Source: UNEP), much of it due to mining and logging to supply world demand for minerals and paper products or to commercial agriculture to supply palm oil and biofuel crops. Meanwhile, the human population growth rate in Africa is faster than anywhere else in the world, with accompanying poverty and lack of basic needs. This situation increases demands on forest resources and the risk of disease transmission between humans and chimpanzees. As disturbing as these trends are, there is still time to act, and it is well worth the effort, not just for chimpanzees but for all of us. We can save this amazing species and also conserve the world s second largest rainforest, which is essential to climate health and human health. By doing so, we will protect the tens of thousands of species of plants and animals that live there, and we will preserve the forest resources upon which local populations of humans, indeed humans all over the world, depend. The challenge is to inspire people, locally and globally, to use the rainforest and its resources sustainably. With sound science and the vision of our Founder as our guide, the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) is meeting this challenge. After more than 35 years of groundbreaking chimpanzee behavioral research, on-the-ground experience, and technological innovation, the Jane Goodall Institute is well-positioned to save chimpanzees from extinction. 2

3 Our Mission and Vision... my hope is that more and more people will come to understand the critical state of our planet and how it affects them... that more people will change their attitudes about the environment to a more sustainable view, and take positive actions before it is too late. We have passed the tipping point for some species and for many ecosystems around the world, but there is so much we can still save and possibly some that we can actually restore if we act now. Our problems started with people; people must change them. A world where every one of us accepts responsibility for taking care of our natural world that is my vision. - Dr. Jane Goodall, International Herald Tribune The Jane Goodall Institute is an international nonprofit that promotes wildlife conservation through education and research. The breadth of our mission reflects Dr. Jane Goodall s personal philosophy that the survival of all species, whether chimpanzee or human, depends upon all people working together. The task of saving chimpanzees and their habitat is a perfect example. Because the threats to chimpanzees are complex and interconnected, so too must be the solutions. The Jane Goodall Institute s approach to saving chimpanzees is grounded in sound science. It is based on the belief that knowledge leads to compassion and ultimately to action. 3

4 Our Response Thirty-Year Goal In 2012, the Institute decided to formally adopt an ambitious 30-year goal of protecting 85 percent of Africa s wild chimpanzee population and its habitat. With chimpanzees disappearing at such an alarming rate and threats increasing annually, it was time to set this ambitious long-term goal to focus our efforts and better measure our progress. Building On Our Strengths With this goal in mind, we reviewed the Institute s considerable strengths and experience gained from Dr. Goodall s more than 50 years of chimpanzee behavioral research at Gombe; the Institute s 19 years of developing people- and community-centered conservation strategies at our flagship projects in Tanzania and in other chimpanzee range countries; and our growing expertise in the use of innovative geospatial technology to map and monitor human and chimpanzee use of forest resources. In sum, JGI is known and respected for: Five-Year Plan ( ) Implementing a holistic approach to conservation; Building trusted relationships with communities; Collaborating with other organizations to achieve conservation goals; Deploying scientific knowledge for highimpact conservation results; and Engaging youth around the globe to be the next generation of conservation and humanitarian leaders. During the first five years, we are repositioning the Institute geographically and putting mechanisms in place to leverage our strengths and maximize our impact per donor dollar. Specifically, our objectives are to: Focus more of our resources on areas of sub-saharan Africa where chimpanzees are most abundant the Congo Basin and neighboring countries. We already have established programs in the DRC, Congo and Uganda, in addition to our flagship community conservation sites in western Tanzania. Harness the power of deeper alliances with governments and other non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to increase our success without duplicating what others do. Develop greater synergies between our global youth program and our work in Africa, both of which are critical to our long-term success. 4

5 How We Work Holistic Model JGI s conservation approach is distinguished by its integration of people and communities into its conservation strategies. JGI motivates people and communities to adopt new practices to serve themselves and the land and species upon which they rely. The model is based upon Dr. Goodall s personal philosophy. Witnessing the almost total loss of trees outside Gombe National Park while flying in a plane over Tanzania in 1992, Dr. Goodall wondered how the chimpanzees would survive. She saw that there were more people living around the park than the land could support. It became clear to her that the problems faced by the villagers, such as poverty, lack of clean water and education, limited access to primary health care, and overused farmland, were intrinsically related to the environmental issues. Dr. Goodall decided then that long-lasting conservation could only be achieved by helping local people meet their needs and, in the process, educating them how to protect the forest and its inhabitants. JGI s model... Is sustainable Based upon a community-driven approach Designed to enable eventual transfer of most activities to locally governed, community-based organizations (CBOs) Is flexible Builds on new and existing community leaders and strengthens existing community networks Tailored to the cultural, governmental, economic, and social characteristics of individual communities and countries Promotes gender equality Empowers women to improve their socioeconomic status and position themselves as leaders in conservation and within their communities Is supported by science and research Leverages the most up-to-date technology and research to enhance training and accelerate the conservation process 5

6 How We Work Community Trust JGI s people-centered conservation approach lets local communities take the lead and provides them with the tools and support needed to manage their natural resources for long-term environmental prosperity and improved livelihoods. As local people become increasingly engaged and involved in the sustainable management of their natural resources, they are in a much better position to effectively preserve the natural environment and the wildlife that lives there. Leveraging Community Relationships JGI s conservation model revolves around an on-the-ground social network of trusted staff and educators drawn from the local population ( peer educators ) who implement community and land-use planning, introduce alternative livelihoods, and educate their neighbors on social and economic needs, including health, microcredit, agroforestry practices, community governance, and environmental education. Through this network, JGI is able to empower local populations to address their health and economic needs, particularly in ways that conserve the natural resources upon which they rely. These JGI-trained peer educators are the backbone of our model. They are trusted in the community and are experts in local needs and practices. Rather than requiring them to have extensive education and degrees, we give them targeted basic training then encourage them to continue developing their own skills while building local capacity an approach that mirrors the capacity-building component of our global youth program. Power of Partnerships and Alliances 6

7 How We Work Partnerships enable us to continue advancing our mission while remaining financially sustainable as an organization and without duplicating the efforts of others working in the same landscapes. Partnerships also allow us to capitalize on the expertise of others. As part of our five-year plan, JGI is working to deepen our relationships with a number of our existing partners to promote information sharing and collaboration. Our strategic alliance with the World Resources Institute (WRI) to further develop its Global ForestWatch 2.0 project is a perfect example. JGI will be a key contributor to this online forest monitoring system that will combine forest cover data, remote-sensing data and systems, partner maps, mobile technology, and a networked world to provide near real-time deforestation alerts essential to monitoring and enforcement of forest protection efforts. The Next Generation of Leaders The long-term success of our endeavors cannot be guaranteed unless enough young people understand the importance of our conservation efforts and are inspired and equipped to lead this approach in the future. Jane Goodall s Roots & Shoots, JGI s global environmental and humanitarian youth program, is empowering these future leaders. Founded in Tanzania in 1991 by Dr. Goodall and a group of Tanzanian students, today the program involves nearly 150,000 young people in more than 120 countries. Roots & Shoots youth make positive change happen for their communities, for animals, and for the environment. Today, JGI is helping interested Roots & Shoots members learn about the Institute s people-centered conservation model, established through our work in Africa, by mapping their own communities. Through the process, youth identify issues facing people, animals and the environment and create campaigns to address those issues. This approach connects Roots & Shoots groups in the United States and elsewhere with JGI s work in Africa through a shared focus on protecting habitats from local backyards to faraway forests. Grounded in Science Beginning with our Founder s groundbreaking chimpanzee behavioral research, science has been and always will be at the core of JGI s work. We provide the platform for top scientists in their fields from leading global institutions to advance research and apply their findings to field work, ultimately driving more efficient and effective conservation. Each of these scientists focuses on key questions faced by African species and ecosystems. This research and the application of the findings help to promote a greater understanding and awareness of the threats facing chimpanzees and of ecosystem health as a whole. 7

8 How We Work JGI is also at the forefront of technological innovation. We are a recognized leader in the use of geospatial technologies to effect greater understanding and impact of conservation efforts. These technologies are being applied in the field in a variety of ways for example, to enable people living near chimpanzee habitat to monitor their land use and the location of chimpanzees. How You Can Help We cannot do this alone. Without your continued support, we would not be able to save chimpanzees and other endangered wildlife while restoring irreplaceable and dwindling landscapes critical to the survival of all living things. We invite you to join us as we strive to meet our 30-year goal and continue to: Restore African habitat through balanced, sustainable community programs that involve local citizens in conservation and community development; Educate and empower youth; and Create a world where people, animals and the environment coexist in harmony. Please support the Jane Goodall Institute today. Visit to learn how Spring Hill Road, Suite 550, Vienna, VA Tel: / Fax: August