Jane Goodall Thinks It’s Not Too Late to Save the World

The Impact of Humans on the Planet

Jane Goodall understands better than most the impact humans have had on the planet. The world, the primatologist says, isn’t what it used to be. Having witnessed so much environmental deterioration during her lifetime, today Goodall is as much an activist as a scientist. She warns tirelessly of accelerating environmental devastation, vanishing biodiversity, and rapidly intensifying climate change. “When I began, there weren’t such problems,” she says.

Studying Chimpanzees and Discovering Biodiversity

At 26, Goodall ventured into the Tanzanian rainforests—where the now-famous Gombe National Park was established a few years later—to study chimpanzees. Her years of meticulous observation deepened our understanding of these animals and their similarities to us. Among her most significant discoveries was that chimpanzees can make and use simple tools, a trait previously thought unique to humans. Goodall also revealed the primates’ rich social networks.

Gombe, situated on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, was not large even then—at 35 square kilometers, it is one of Tanzania’s smallest parks. However, it was surrounded by dense forest, home to countless wildlife species. Over the decades, deforestation has reduced the forest, and local wildlife has fallen prey to poachers.

The Threats to Chimpanzees and Biodiversity

“Gombe has become an isolated forest with bare hills all around,” says Goodall. Chimpanzee living conditions have deteriorated not only there but across Africa. There were about a million chimps in the early 20th century; today’s estimates range from 170,000 to 300,000. Countless other animals and regions face similar threats.

The planet’s biodiversity has also rapidly deteriorated over the past few decades, and according to the UN, up to a million species are at risk of extinction, mainly due to their wild habitats being changed to farmland. On top of this, human-induced climate change reduces the living space for many species. The window of time available to halt this trend and to protect ecosystems that both animals and humans rely on is running out, Goodall argues. “I don’t know how big a window it is. The important thing is we’ve got to get together and take action now.”

Addressing Biodiversity Loss and Climate Change

Addressing both biodiversity loss in specific regions and global climate change is imperative, Goodall stresses. Everything is connected, she says. “You have to do them together—biodiversity loss and climate change.” Focusing solely on climate change could still lead to the loss of species like chimpanzees, she says. “The one advantage of the number of people on the planet, which is too many, is that there are enough people to tackle every single problem. Every one of us makes an impact on the planet every single day. And unless we’re very poor or very young, we can choose what sort of impact we make. Like what do we buy? How was it made? Did it harm the environment? Was it cruel to animals? Is it cheap because of unfair wages?”

The Role of Sustainable Development

While immersed in fieldwork earlier in life, Goodall recognized that lifting people out of poverty was integral to preserving biodiversity in the national park. Hence, she initiated the Tacare program, which offers microloans to kick-start sustainable businesses, scholarships for girls previously deprived of secondary education, and family-planning counseling. Additionally, farmers receive advice on chemical-free, sustainable farming practices, such as permaculture.

Grassroots Efforts and Conservation

Her fascination with chimpanzee research persists, and she closely monitors the next generation of scientists advancing her pioneering work. “I learned just the other day something I never knew before,” she says. In Senegal, amid a parched environment, chimpanzees demonstrate a remarkable adaptation: They frequent watering holes, ingeniously filtering muddy water through hollowed-out holes in roots and vegetation.

“They’ve got a film of it, which I saw last week. I’ve never seen it before. But then think of what we’re learning about other animals. The octopus, so intelligent. Crows, who can solve problems faster than children. You know—there’s so much like that.”