About Hope in Action 2025-2028 Strategic Plan Hope is what enables us to keep going in the face of adversity. It is what we desire to happen, but we must be prepared to work hard to make it so. Dr. Jane Goodall We stand at the most critical juncture in conservation history. The choices we make in the next few years could determine whether we set our planet on a path toward healing or push it beyond critical tipping points. Yet within this crisis lies an extraordinary opportunity – one that our founder Dr. Jane Goodall’s life’s work prepared us to seize. For over six decades, Jane showed us that hope without action is merely wishful thinking, but hope coupled with determined effort can transform the world. Our strategic plan, Hope in Action, keeps Jane’s philosophy alive. Jane’s greatest discovery wasn’t about chimpanzees. It was about the power of communities to change the world. Every community we support and every young leader we empower carries Jane’s vision forward. We know a powerful truth: the communities living closest to endangered ecosystems are not just partners in conservation – they are the solution. This strategic plan is Jane Goodall Institute of Canada’s commitment to amplify and scale community-led actions. We will grow conservation partnerships, empower youth environmental leaders, and advance Jane’s legacy to inspire millions of Canadians. This is our roadmap to a world where animals, people, and the environment thrive together. The time for hope is now. The time for action is now. Our North Star Amplify and scale community-led actions to create a world where animals, people, and the environment thrive together. Read the Plan Our Values Relationships First Build reciprocal, respectful partnerships. Hope to Action Harness the power of hope to inspire change. Always Evolving Embrace continuous learning and courageous questioning. Tapestry of Life Honour the interconnectedness of all living things. A United Path Forward The world is becoming more polarized, yet nature doesn’t recognize our artificial boundaries, and neither do we. Where others see divisions, we see connections. Between scientific knowledge and Indigenous wisdom. Between community actions in Africa and environmental leadership in Canada. Between today’s youth and tomorrow’s world. Interconnectedness is how the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada sees the world. We embrace the tapestry of life where every thread connects to another so that animals, people, and the environment can all thrive together. Converging Forces The convergence of three extraordinary forces creates a moment unlike any other, where we fundamentally reshape our relationship with the natural world. Communities Leading the Charge Across the continent of Africa and Indigenous territories throughout Canada, local communities are driving conservation results that benefit both people and ecosystems – they can achieve even more with the right support. Youth Demanding Change A generation anxious about their environmental future seeks meaningful ways to channel their energy into solution-building with likeminded individuals of all ages. Technology Enabling Conservation Digital tools now allow us to deepen our understanding of knowledge systems, share solutions, bridge scientific approaches with Indigenous wisdom, and mobilize action at unprecedented scale. Our Priorities Grow Community-Led Conservation Our planetary health is at risk, with critical ecosystems on the verge of collapse. The solution lies in Tacare, our community-led approach to conservation, which harnesses a powerful truth: those with the deepest connection to endangered ecosystems are best placed to protect them. This approach honours the expertise of African communities and Indigenous Peoples in Canada living alongside wildlife, while recognizing that, in order for environmental solutions to be sustainable, they must also address the needs of human populations. Read the Plan What We’ll Do: Protect and restore habitats across chimpanzee ranges in Africa by partnering with local communities as they lead conservation actions. Support traditional knowledge in environmental stewardship across Canada by partnering with Indigenous communities to protect their traditional territories. How We’ll Do It: Foster reciprocal relationships that integrate local and Indigenous knowledge with conservation science. Develop nature-based solutions in collaboration with communities that prioritize their needs. Fund intergenerational knowledge transfer and capacity building. Design and test a biodiversity measurement framework adapted to our conservation approach. You cannot save chimpanzees, forests, or the environment if you do not first improve the lives of the people who live there.Dr. Jane Goodall Empower Youth Environmental Leadership Today’s youth face rising climate anxiety yet refuse to give in to apathy. By channeling their energy into action, we can support a generational movement of leaders to bring conservation values everywhere – from classrooms to corporate boardrooms, from sharing circles to treaty tables. Read the Plan What We’ll Do: Increase and deepen the impact of the Roots & Shoots youth-led conservation movement by driving grassroots actions across Canada. Nurture youth leadership by equipping them with tools and resources to shape a sustainable future informed by Indigenous perspectives. How We’ll Do It: Build up Youth Advisory Council members as Roots & Shoots ambassadors. Create opportunities to connect Canadian youth with international Roots & Shoots chapters. Amplify youth voices through digital tools and platforms. Support young people in designing Roots & Shoots projects informed by Indigenous perspectives. As young people, we bring energy, creativity, and urgency to today’s challenges. In the face of climate change and biodiversity loss, we choose action – and we invite you to do the same.Maggie MacDonald, 2025-2026 Youth Advisory Council Fellow Advance Jane’s Legacy Over many decades right until her passing in October 2025, Jane shared a powerful message – individual actions matter and hope must be actively cultivated. This message lives on in each one of us, and helps to transform anxiety into agency. As political systems shift and social divisions deepen, Jane gifted us a beacon of hope that is the guiding light we need for these times. This is the moment to mobilize Canadians to join our movement and carry forward Jane’s legacy. Jane built this organization to live beyond her, and our Institute is ready to carry forward the work Jane started with unwavering commitment. Read the Plan What We’ll Do: Inspire more Canadians to act on Jane’s enduring message that “every individual makes a difference” through engagement with the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada. Future-proof our organization for this era beyond our indomitable founder, by building partnerships grounded in mission-driven philanthropy. How We’ll Do It: Use Jane’s approach of authentic storytelling to reach both hearts and minds of Canadians. Develop multimedia campaigns that reach millions with our message of hope. Build strategic partnerships that multiply our conservation impact. Create community events where Canadians can take meaningful action together. We can have a world of peace. We can move toward a world where we live in harmony with nature. Where we live in harmony with each other. No matter what nation we come from. No matter what our religion. No matter what our culture. This is where we’re moving towards.Dr. Jane Goodall The greatest danger to our future is apathy. Dr. Jane Goodall The time is now. The window for transformative action is narrowing. In the next three years, we have an opportunity to set our planet on a path towards healing. The Jane Goodall Institute of Canada stands ready to meet this pivotal moment with a bold strategy to navigate the critical juncture we face and to secure a sustainable future we need. But we cannot do it alone. Join us in building on Jane Goodall’s lasting legacy and inspiring hope through action. The future of our shared planet depends on what we do today. Support Hope in Action We’re grateful for the support of our remarkable community. None of this work is possible without your kindness and generosity. Please consider donating to ensure this work – and Dr. Jane’s mission – can continue. Donate to Support Hope in Action
