Deforestation is a major threat that is driving both the climate crisis and biodiversity loss. It also threatens millions of people who depend upon vital natural resources and ecosystem services. As the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) works to ensure a sustainable and equitable future for our planet and all life on it, we are focusing on nature-based greenhouse gas mitigation and locally-led ecological restoration/reforestation efforts, proactive advocacy, preventative programs, and adaptive strategies for ecosystems.
Just one piece of this strategy is our Village Forest Monitor program. Through this program, locally-elected village forest monitors (VFMs) in Western Tanzania are trained by JGI Tanzania staff to patrol village forest reserves in order to observe biodiversity and alert village and government leaders about evolving threats. When monitoring began in 2018, there were just 56 VFMs—all of them men. As Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI) is a key aspect of JGI’s Landscape Conservation in Western Tanzania (LCWT) project, concerted investment has been made over the last several years to increase participation from women in monitoring roles.
Hope-Filled Stats
1M native trees
To be planted globally through a powerful partnership between JGI and the Arbor Day Foundation funded by HP.
162 village forest monitors
Working in Western Tanzania to observe biodiversity and alert village and government leaders about evolving threats.
30% of VFMs
In Uganda are women—a small but growing number!
Today, there are 162 VFMs in Western Tanzania, six of which are women. Although the number may seem small, it represents a significant step in participating communities, and an emerging trend of women seeking key roles. These women are actively engaged in protecting their natural resources sustainably and improving their livelihoods through community-led natural resource management. In Uganda, approximately 30% of VFMs are women—a trend we seek to grow across all program areas. When there are advances in gender equity, everyone benefits.
Through JGI’s Tacare approach to community-led conservation, our teams are working with communities to find creative solutions to the problems they face, and create opportunities for sustainable, equitable development without jeopardizing important resources like native forests. Learn more and support our programs at janegoodall.org/donate.