In July 1960, at the age of 26, Jane Goodall traveled from England to what is now Tanzania and ventured into the little-known world of wild chimpanzees.

Equipped with little more than a notebook, binoculars, and her fascination with wildlife, Jane Goodall braved a realm of unknowns to give the world a remarkable window into humankind’s closest living relatives. Through nearly 60 years of groundbreaking work, Dr. Jane Goodall has not only shown us the urgent need to protect chimpanzees from extinction; she has also redefined species conservation to include the needs of local people and the environment. Today she travels the world, speaking about the threats facing chimpanzees and environmental crises, urging each of us to take action on behalf of all living things and planet we share.

Protecting chimpanzees and their habitats is the heart of JGI’s mission. For several decades, JGI has invested in partnerships with local communities and governments to address conservation threats head-on with innovative and holistic solutions driven by the latest science and technology. In Western Tanzania, from improving access to sustainable livelihoods, implementing collaborative land-use planning, supporting capacity around natural resource management and expanding environment education, we’re achieving positive outcomes so that people, chimpanzees and their ecosystems can all thrive. With the generous support of concerned individuals around the world, we’re delivering hope through conservation action.