Jane Goodall, 85, Vows To Plant 5 Million Trees This Year As Part Of UN Campaign
The primatologist and founder of The Jane Goodall Institute recently announced that she will be planting 5 million trees—in 2020.
By Jisha Joseph-February 2, 2020
Environmentalists have been protesting against deforestation for decades. Despite their relentless attempts to raise awareness about the dangers of wiping out forests, the world more or less turned a deaf ear to all their appeals. Even today, at a time when the likes of Greta Thunberg make headlines almost every day seeking action against the climate crisis, industrialist giants continue to wage a merciless war on forests. A war that's killing countless diverse species and releasing harmful byproducts that are adding to the Earth's plight. As hopeless as it all seems, if there's one thing history has taught us, it's that even the most unimaginable things are possible if humans come together for a united cause.
Dr. Jane Goodall, for one, is well aware of this fact and is determined to do her part to help save the planet and all its diverse species. The primatologist and founder of The Jane Goodall Institute recently announced that she will be planting 5 million trees—in this one year. Partnering with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to aid the group's the 1 Trillion Trees campaign, the 85-year-old is also urging every one of us to rise to the occasion and do our part.
In a statement posted on the Jane Goodall Institute website, Dr. Goodall said, "[1 Trillion Trees] offers innovative technologies which will serve to connect tens of thousands of small and large groups around the world that are engaged in tree planting and forest restoration. Creating this “greening global community”, will allow for sharing critically needed funding and best practices — just what is needed to achieve the trillion trees goal in ten years. Toward this [1 Trillion Trees] goal, I am proud to announce that our Roots & Shoots program, which empowers young people in 60 countries, has committed to planting over 5 million new trees over the coming year. Now is the time for everyone on the planet to do their part."
According to the website, the Jane Goodall Institute has long worked collaboratively with local communities across the chimpanzee range in Africa by supporting local ownership of the process of holistic conservation. This has helped the institute create efficient land-use plans and forest reserves while also supporting sustainable livelihoods. These programs help protect these precious environments, and in so have contributed millions of trees planted or restored over nearly 30 years of community-centered conservation. Likewise, its Roots & Shoots program supports young people in becoming environmental stewards and activists through service-learning projects, many of which directly restore or replant forests, the website states.
In 2020, the Roots & Shoots program and partners from almost 60 countries across the world will help plant and/or restore 5 million trees to help move closer to the 1 Trillion Trees campaign's goals. Their contribution will undoubtedly make a huge difference as according to the campaign, "global reforestation binds at least a quarter of the annual man-made CO2 emissions." Dr. Goodall is doing her part. Are you?
