“When you live in the forest, it’s easy to see that everything’s connected.”
— Dr. Jane Goodall

General

The Jane Goodall Institute supports the conservation of wildlife, particularly primates, by placing local communities at the heart of conservation efforts. JGI aims to improve the lives of people, animals, and the environment. Dr. Goodall’s holistic approach is advanced through a variety of interconnected programs that bring community-centered conservation to life.

Our goal is to achieve a healthy ecosystem where humans, animals, and the environment coexist in sustainable harmony. By protecting primates and their habitats in close cooperation with local communities, we also enhance the living environment and raise awareness among people of all ages about the importance of nature conservation.

JGI is committed not only to reducing threats to nature but also to identifying the root causes of those threats and working to modify interests that conflict with conservation. By fostering dialogue and providing alternative livelihoods, these interests can gain acceptance within local communities.

The following principles guide our work to improve conservation impact and strengthen the communities we collaborate with, thereby achieving a truly holistic and sustainable approach.

Principles

1. Respect community customs and traditions as expressions of local life — culturally, economically, organizationally, and governmental.
2. Uphold people’s rights according to customary, national, and international human rights laws.
3. Provide sustainable alternatives within our projects and policies to replace activities harmful to nature and wildlife, thereby enhancing community health and wealth.
4. Advocate successful conservation solutions at national and global policy levels.
5. Protect vulnerable communities by promoting economic growth and self-reliance based on local potential and natural assets.
6. Address corruption, weak governance, and enforcement issues through education, income security improvements, participatory decision-making, environmental management, and empowerment.
7. Highlight to governments, businesses, and interest groups that unequal distribution of environmental costs and benefits, as well as unsustainable consumption and production, harm both nature and communities.
8. Remain politically and ideologically neutral, complying with all national and regulatory requirements in the countries where we operate.
9. Ensure safe and healthy working conditions for staff both in the field and in national offices.
10. Protect staff privacy and provide fair contracts in all countries where JGI operates.

Strategic Partnerships

JGI seeks partnerships with companies committed to nature conservation as part of their sustainability agenda. We welcome business partners who lead their industry in measurable sustainable achievements and where mutual benefit exists. For example, JGI can assist companies offsetting their climate footprint by planting trees in ways that also enhance nature conservation and community welfare.

When entering strategic partnerships, the following principles apply:

1. Cooperation must benefit both organizations in achieving their respective missions.
2. Partnerships aim for long-term collaboration.
3. Partnerships are non-exclusive; conflicts of interest are openly discussed and resolved.
4. All communications referring to the partnership require mutual approval.
5. JGI reserves the right to decline partnerships conflicting with its mission and vision.
6. Partnerships are governed by signed agreements detailing services and key success factors.
7. Confidential, proprietary, or sensitive information shared by partners is protected by JGI, except where retaining such information would be unethical or unlawful.
8. Partners are expected to fulfill obligations and promote JGI’s mission and vision in their communications with other stakeholders.
9. JGI provides partners with transparent insight into resource use (financial and material) and maintains accurate records to demonstrate compliance.
10. JGI respects any partner’s wish for anonymity or background status and will act accordingly.