Digital Action Kit

Tchimpounga Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Centre

For more than 30 years, the Tchimpounga Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Centre – surrounded by 129,000 acres of dense rainforest and savannah – has been an essential sanctuary for more than 200 chimpanzees who have been orphaned or injured by the illegal wildlife trade and deforestation.

To the chimpanzees at Tchimpounga, the sanctuary is so much more than trees and grass. The waters of the Kouilou River, for example, provide a natural barrier to keep them safe from wild chimpanzees, bushmeat hunters, encroaching development, and other threats.

Ecoguards, hired by the Jane Goodall Institute, patrol the 555 square mile area to ensure safety from outside threats – and an extraordinary team of professionals ensure they get the specialized and individualized care they need.

Photo: Fernando Turmo

Conservation and Sustainable Management of Coastal and Marine Ecosystems

In the coastal regions of Kenya and Tanzania, thousands of community members are working to protect and conserve coastal and marine ecosystems with sustainable solutions.

Together with the Jane Goodall Institute Tanzania, Plan International Canada, and Cascadia Seaweed Corporation, and with funding from Global Affairs Canada, we’re supporting this important work.

Community members are leading nature-based solutions and receiving the training they need to achieve their conservation goals, and women are leading efforts in gender-responsive forest management. Young leaders are establishing Roots & Shoots clubs and receiving conservation training, too.

This work is leading to tangible progress. Over the past year, new village tree nurseries – which are going to produce 60,000 seedlings – have been created. On top of that work, Roots & Shoots clubs have expanded into more than 40 schools since the project was launched. Dozens of young leaders have also been identified for training in leadership, climate advocacy, and gender equality.

Photo: Armstrong Too

Roots & Shoots

In 1991, students gathered on Dr. Jane’s front porch in Tanzania to discuss the complex challenges the planet was facing. They told her they felt overwhelmed and discouraged, but they wanted to help. They just didn’t know where to start.

Impressed by the optimism and enthusiasm among these young people, and their willingness to tackle crises that they didn’t create, Dr. Jane encouraged these young students to focus on local challenges.

Together, they created Roots & Shoots, which helps young people harness their energy and supports the development of service projects – ensuring they can become the community leaders not just of tomorrow, but of today.

In Canada, more than 12,000 young people are involved in Roots & Shoots projects, and more than 80,000 community members are being positively impacted.

Roots & Shoots groups can be any size – from high school groups with dozens of people to four neighbours working together. There are groups taking action in recreation centres, scout troops, large businesses, preschools, classrooms, and places of worship.

Photo: Cong Li