Dr. Goodall to Visit Saskatoon & Toronto in September
It's the 30th anniversary of the founding of JGI this year, and Dr. Jane Goodall will be visiting Canada this September to talk to audiences about the Institute's African conservation projects and to spread her messages of hope and peace. She will be giving public lectures in Saskatoon on the evening of September 13 and in Toronto on the evening of September 15, in addition to meeting with Roots & Shoots groups in both cities. Click here for more details on both events.

Conditions Improving for Orphans of Tchimpounga
Over the past six months, JGI's Tchimpounga Sanctuary in the Republic of Congo has had to deal with an influx of 13 new orphaned chimpanzees, bringing the population to 133. The sanctuary was originally designed to hold just 45 chimpanzees, so the construction of new buildings and renovation of existing buildings has become a huge priority. Over the last year Canadian donors have contributed more than $38,000 to the construction of a new dormitory, which should be ready to welcome 35 chimpanzees in August 2007. Designed to provide comfortable sleeping space for chimpanzees, it will allow for easy movement of animals.

In addition to this new space, a new food storage area will be added that will significantly reduce the time spent transporting the 500kg of food the chimps require each day! The old storage area is being converted into a new veterinary treatment room, with chimpanzee-proof windows and doors. The changes will make it much easier for staff to do their jobs, and improve the lives of the chimpanzee residents. A sincere thanks to all who have supported these improvements through the Chimp Guardian program, and to the Reverie Foundation and Youssef-Warren Foundation, both of which made generous gifts to support dormitory construction.

Satellite Images Helping to Save Forests of Gombe
Gombe National Park, in Tanzania, is the birthplace of JGI – this is where Dr. Goodall began her landmark research on chimpanzees more than 45 years ago. Today, Gombe is still a major focus of JGI's programs and we are working to restore the forests around the park through the Greater Gombe Ecosystem program. Thanks to your support, we are now using high-resolution satellite imagery to help us gather information on land-use practices, plant species and animal populations, and to conduct biological surveys confirming the existence of suitable habitats for chimpanzees. To date, the imagery has allowed us to monitor and select 13 forests, establish land-use and reforestation plans, and to assess the problem of deforestation and facilitate participatory conservation planning. And you can now check out the situation yourself by visiting the Google Earth "geoblog" launched by JGI US.

Bushmeat: An International Issue
The commercial bushmeat trade (where wild animals are killed to be sold commercially for their meat) continues to threaten the survival of chimpanzees in Africa. According to a recent study conducted in several markets in Europe and North America, primates, including Great Apes, represent a third of the illegal international trade in bushmeat. Amazingly enough, the markets where bushmeat is currently being sold include Montreal and Toronto. Although the international trade represents only a small fraction of the wild meat hunted in Africa, the demand for the meat in international markets increases prices and makes this an attractive source of income for African communities. JGI continues to work with communities in several African countries to improve their lives through health and education initiatives, and to provide them with alternative sources of income. But it is also becoming increasingly important to educate African immigrants about the role they are playing in the decline of endangered species like chimpanzees. To find out more about how you can help, visit: www.janegoodall.org/africa-programs/objectives/controlling-bushmeat-trade.asp.

Roots & Shoots Youth Action Workshops Take Off
JGI recently launched a national series of Youth for Action workshops designed to help young people explore local environmental and humanitarian issues and develop the leadership and project skills they need to take action to solve them. The first two workshops were held in Guelph, Ontario in November and Toronto, Ontario in February, with more workshops planned for Vancouver, Saskatoon and Sudbury over the coming year. To date more than 200 inspired and action-oriented young people between the ages of 14 and 20 have taken part in the workshops. To find out more about how you can get involved, email Kelly Spence at Kelly@janegoodall.ca.

Jane's Peak Society
JGI Canada has recently introduced an exciting new opportunity for its donors – Jane's Peak Society (JPS). Named after the peak at Gombe National Park that gave Jane her best vantage point from which to view wild chimpanzees, the society offers donors who make an annual commitment of $1,000 or more a chance to become more involved with JGI through trips to Africa, and to receive invitations to special events, in addition to updates from Dr. Jane and our Africa field staff. By making an annual commitment, JPS members help us to plan ahead and to advance our efforts to protect chimpanzees, invest in community-centered conservation throughout Africa, and support leading-edge environmental and humanitarian education programs in Canada.

For more information about Jane's Peak Society, please contact Jane Lawton at (416) 978-3558 or j.lawton@janegoodall.ca