February 9, 2026 Village Forest Monitors: What do they do, and why does this work matter? Photo: Dr. Lilian Pintea This year, the Jane Goodall Institute celebrates two decades of our community forest monitoring program – it’s one of the longest ongoing, tech-driven, citizen science efforts in Africa! Launched in Tanzania’s Greater Gombe Ecosystem, this initiative supports local communities as they work to conserve their own lands – which is central to Tacare, our community-led conservation approach. The Village Forest Monitors program has significantly contributed to the restoration and protection of critical forest habitat in western Tanzania around Gombe – where Dr. Jane’s landmark research occurred. What are Village Forest Monitors? Village Forest Monitors are community volunteers selected by the local government. They help manage forests and other village land resources. The Jane Goodall Institute equips and trains them to use smartphones and mobile field data collection apps – they can then report their observations on chimpanzees, other wildlife, and illegal human activities. Village Forest Monitors data feeds directly into a Decision Support System and is automatically visualized through dashboards and web-maps. This helps inform local conservation and land management decisions. Why does this work matter? Habitat loss and fragmentation threaten wildlife and also impact resources that support people’s basic needs – like access to clean water. In Tanzania, this often occurs when forests are converted to meet development needs. The Village Forest Monitors program exemplifies how community-led efforts, combined with appropriate technology use, help communities develop and implement strategic land use plans that benefit animals, people, and the environment they share. What is next for the program? The Jane Goodall Institute is committed to ensuring this program sustains and evolves to meet dynamic local decision-making needs – with continued support and training, including expanding the use of cutting-edge technologies like bioacoustics sensors and camera traps. This is Dr. Jane Goodall’s legacy in action: science guided by compassion, conservation led by local communities. Explore Related Content From The Field The powerful connection between economic empowerment and environmental conservation February 9, 2026 Read more From The Field, News and Updates Update: Presence of African manatees confirmed in Tchimpounga Nature Reserve February 9, 2026 Read more From The Field The Delivery of One Healthy Future February 9, 2026 Read more
