The Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) is a global wildlife and environmental conservation organization founded in 1977 by renowned British ethologist and activist Dr. Jane Goodall. The Jane Goodall Institute Spain was officially established in 2007 as a non-profit association and it is one of 27 independent offices that make up the JGI Global network. The institute focuses on promoting understanding and protection of great apes along with their habitats and aims to inspire positive action toward conservation through community-centered conservation programs, public awareness campaigns, and research. A significant part of JGI’s mission is to empower individuals and communities to conserve the natural environment we all share. Therefore, the objectives of its mission focus on the conservation and non-invasive research of chimpanzees and other primates, sustainable development, reforestation, environmental education and public awareness, as well as climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Dr. Goodall’s extensive field research findings revolutionized the scientific community. Her extensive research work started in 1960 and has been continued by researchers of the Jane Goodall Institute up to the present, becoming one of the longest-running field studies of animals in the wild. Her work has been essential not only in producing and disseminating knowledge about chimpanzees and other species, but also in generating empathy and strengthening their protection and that of their ecosystems, as well as inviting us to reflect on our own species and promote a more sustainable lifestyle. For all her achievements, Dr Goodall is considered one of the most impactful women scientists of the 20th century and one of the most important environmental activists of the 21st century.

From 2002 to 2012, the Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation (NaEPF) collaborated with the Jane Goodall Institute Italia, supporting both the Sanganiwa Children’s Home in Tanzania and the Tchimpounga Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Center (TCRC) in Congo – the largest chimpanzee sanctuary in Africa. In 2025, building on this long-standing relationship and shared commitment to a harmonious relationship between the people, the animals and the environment, the NaEPF is renewing its strategic partnership with the Jane Goodall Institute by supporting two initiatives led by Jane Goodall Institute Spain: the Roots & Shoots program in Spain and the “Seeds of Hope” project in Senegal.

Roots & Shoots: Hope in Action, Spain

In 1991, Dr. Jane Goodall created the Roots & Shoots (R&S) educational programme to encourage young people worldwide to undertake projects that foster respect and empathy for all living things, promote understanding between cultures and beliefs, and inspire individuals to take action to make the world a better place. Today the programme is present in more than 70 countries, including Spain, where it has over 11,000 highly committed and active participants across the country.

According to the Spanish Ministry of Environment, the country is home to the highest species diversity in Europe, ranking first in mammal and reptile species and hosting over 80% of all European wild plant species. However, Spain, particularly Catalonia, faces significant environmental challenges, exacerbated by climate change. These challenges present both threats and opportunities for conservation and sustainability initiatives. The region is experiencing severe drought conditions, resulting in water scarcity that affects both urban populations and agricultural activities. The Jane Goodall Institute Spain’s efforts are closely aligned with the region’s needs, focusing on conservation, education, and sustainable community development. Through initiatives like the Roots & Shoots programme, the Institute empowers young people to play an active role in environmental stewardship, fostering a culture of sustainability to address both current and future environmental challenges.

The Roots & Shoots program is aimed at people of all ages, offering resources and opportunities for action for all community members, with a special focus on young people and children, families, educators, university students and associations. Over the next two years (2025-2026), the programme will promote respect and care for natural spaces and biodiversity by implementing 400 educational workshops in schools, organizing 10 citizen mobilization actions, and launching various environmental awareness campaigns. These initiatives aim to inspire individuals to make lifestyle changes that contribute to a healthier and more sustainable planet. By fostering harmony with nature, the programme seeks to create a better world for current and future generations, ensuring a more sustainable future for all living beings.

Seeds of Hope, Kedougou region, Senegal

The Jane Goodall Institute Spain is actively involved in conservation and community development in Senegal, particularly in the remote Kédougou region in the southeast of the country. This area is one of the last remaining habitats for the critically endangered West African chimpanzee, which is increasingly threatened by deforestation and habitat degradation caused by human activity and climate change. In a context of chronic poverty, unsustainable practices, and limited resources or alternatives, the region faces the annual loss of 40,000 hectares of forest. Over the past 24 years, 80% of the West African chimpanzee population has disappeared, with approximately 500 chimpanzees remaining in Senegal, confined to the Kédougou region and parts of neighboring Tambacounda. The Institute’s efforts are focused on the Dindéfélo Community Nature Reserve and adjacent communes, where they implement a variety of programs aimed at conserving both the chimpanzees and their vital habitats.

Since 2009, the Jane Goodall Institute Spain has been conducting research and conservation activities in Senegal, including non-invasive research on chimpanzees and other primates, sustainable development, reforestation, environmental education, public awareness campaigns, and climate change mitigation and adaptation. The two-year “Seeds of Hope” project, supported by the Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation, aims to address the region’s environmental challenges by expanding and consolidating successful initiatives previously tested by the Institute. These initiatives include reforestation of chimpanzee corridors, restocking timber in buffer zones, creating firebreaks and living fences, developing energy-efficient stoves for households, promoting food sovereignty with a focus on gender equality, and organizing Roots & Shoots environmental education workshops for youth. Additionally, the project will facilitate sensitization sessions with community debates and film screenings, further engaging the broader population in environmental conservation efforts.