Why leaving a gift in your will is so important to your favourite charity

Today marks International Legacy Day, part of annual Include a Charity Week, where charities worldwide raise awareness of why leaving a charitable gift in your will is so impactful and important. Our CEO, James Forbes, writes why – with over sixty years of groundbreaking conservation, and our nationwide Roots & Shoots program inspiring youth environmentalists – the Jane Goodall Institute Australia is a sound investment – that will see your legacy flourish for many generations to come.

The Jane Goodall Institute Australia (JGIA) is the ideal charity to name in our wills because of its enlightened mission that we are all part of nature – humans, animals, and plants. And from our close involvement, we know JGIA operates with the highest integrity.
Andrew O’Keeffe and Jude Tasker

While the world convulses with issues of a pandemic and climate change, questions often turn to our own mortality. A seemingly difficult conversation, many have figured that having a discussion about what a family member’s intentions are with their Will and Estate can be a unifying and bonding experience.

A bequest or gift-in-will is a donation that you make through your Estate after you pass away. Though not compulsory, it’s ideal to communicate your intentions to leave a gift to a charity, or charities, of your choice. This way the charity can ensure that, based on your area of interest, the funds can be used in a manner that best suits your wishes.

If you have faith in your favourite charity’s mission, then a bequest can transform their ability to deliver that mission over the long term. A significant bequest can help make a charity sustainable and enable them to deliver impact for years to come and improve the outcomes for the problem they were set up to solve.

At JGIA a bequest could help expand our educational programs for Australian children or secure the protection of more chimpanzee habitat across Africa. However it helps, you can be sure that the Australian office of the Jane Goodall Institute is committed to ensuring that your bequest – your legacy – transforms the lives of more young people and helps solve some of our most intractable wildlife and environmental challenges.

Find out more about our bequests program >>

JGIA joins the IUCN

iucn member

The International Union for Conservation of Nature is the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it. Their mission is to influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable. The scale and complexity of the challenges to address are beyond the reach and resources of any one country or organization

The IUCN has developed over six decades to become the world’s largest community of environmental experts incorporating State and government agencies, NGOs large and small, economic development agencies, scientists and academics, as well as the private sector and representatives of civil society.

Their common cause is concern for the sustainable future of the planet. Members act collectively to provide leadership, governance and set the organization’s strategic agenda.

Members benefit from IUCN’s scientific credibility, its unsurpassed knowledge base, its convening power, its networking opportunities, and the access it provides to high-level political, economic and social decision making. Members bring the specialist knowledge and expertise from a wide range of perspectives to the IUCN.

World Conservation Congress

Every four years, thousands of delegates participate in the IUCN World Conservation Congress, the world’s largest and most important conservation event. The Congress includes a Forum where IUCN Members and partners discuss cutting edge ideas, thinking and practice. Members submit motions and vote on recommendations and resolutions that contribute to the formation of IUCN policies, the prioritization of programmes and the capacity to implement them.

Members contribute towards the implementation of important conventions and international agreements such as those on biodiversity (CBD), trade in endangered species (CITES), climate change (UNFCCC), deserts (CCD), wetlands (Ramsar) and the UNESCO World Heritage programme.

IUCN at a Glance

  • The world’s oldest and largest global environmental network
  • A leading authority on the environment and sustainability
  • A unique democratic union with more than 1,200 Member organizations in some 160 countries, including States, government agencies, multilateral institutions and NGOs
  • Almost 11,000 expert volunteers grouped into six Commissions reviewing scientific research and developing standards for the conservation community – a unique global scientific community
  • The IUCN Programme approved by Members at the World Conservation Congress: our joint platform for action and policy influence in conservation
  • A governing Council, elected by Members and responsible for the oversight and general control of all the affairs of IUCN
  • Hundreds of partners in governments, NGOs, scientists, business and local communities
  • A Secretariat comprising 45 offices worldwide; headquarters located in Gland, Switzerland
  • Thousands of field projects and activities around the world implemented by IUCN Members and partners together with the Secretariat
  • Official observer status at the United Nations General Assembly
  • Funded by Members, governments, donor agencies, foundations, multilateral institutions and major corporations

The IUCN offers a unique, neutral forum where different interest groups come together to develop balanced, fact based environmental proposals that carry real weight around the world. By joining, JGIA will be advancing it’s cause and adding to it’s collective strength to overcome barriers to a sustainable future.

For more information on the benefits of IUCN membership view this link

What if we could turn back the clock?

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It is now two minutes to midnight on the Doomsday Clock, a ticking time bomb which represents how close we are to destroying the planet and ourselves. But what if we could turn back the clock? What if we could rewind the future?

Climate change, global conflict, biodiversity loss and declines in wildlife populations have all had devastating impacts on the natural world and have set in motion dramatic changes to our environment which now threaten our very existence.

What is the Doomsday Clock?

Each year, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, a nonprofit group that sets the clock, decides whether the events of the previous year pushed humanity closer, to or further from, destruction.

The closer to midnight we are, the more danger we’re in.

 

But it’s not too late, there is still hope.

We still have time to rewind the Doomsday Clock, reduce these threats and create a world where animals, people and the environment live together in harmony.

JGIA is leading the charge with groundbreaking local and global programs that seek to support both human and wildlife communities and rebuild the relationship between people, animals and our shared environment to secure a better future.

YOU can help JGIA to turn back the clock and rewind the future.

With less than three weeks until Dr. Jane Goodall arrives in Australia, time is running out to secure your spot at the highly anticipated Rewind the Future 2019 tour!

Don’t miss out on this rare opportunity to hear hear Dr Jane Goodall’s perspectives on current environmental issues, what the future looks like for the inhabitants of our shared planet and what YOU can do to rewind the future.

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Don’t miss out,
book your ticket today.

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2019 Tour with Dr Jane has been announced!

Many of you will already have received the exciting announcement that Dr Jane will once again be visiting Australia in May 2019. We’ll soon launch a page on our website that will contain key information about the tour as it comes to hand.

In the meantime, you will be able to find details about where Jane will be speaking in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, as well as ticket information, via our friends at Think Inc.

If you’re interested in supporting the tour as a volunteer, please email info@janegoodall.org.au with your details including, name, phone, location and area of interest.

Mobile Phone Recycling kicks off Term 4

You can help save chimpanzees simply by recycling your old phone. How do old phones help chimpanzees? The mining of coltan poses a substantial threat to African great apes. Coltan is a mineral used in electronics. Mining results in the clearing of habitat in coltan-rich areas such as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where chimpanzees live. It also drives the bush meat trade, further exacerbating the decline of chimpanzee populations

Who’s involved

JGIA has partnered with Phone Cycle and Mobile Muster to run a nationwide mobile phone collection drive at participating schools during Term 4.

Why we’ve added new partners for this campaign

JGIA’s existing mobile phone recycling campaign partner, PhoneCycle, is a mobile phone reseller, which means funds donated to JGIA are from the sale of working used phones only. Given that many phones that don’t work but can still be stripped of their essential components like coltan, we have entered a new partnership with a mobile phone recycler, Mobile Muster. This new three-way partnership will allow JGIA to ensure that more funds are raised to support chimpanzee conservation while reducing the demand on elements like coltan which impact Great Ape habitat.

A recent ABC News article featured the program as part of a story on schools tackling waste. 

REGISTER YOUR SCHOOL TODAY

Submission for Inquiry into Australia’s Faunal Extinction Crisis

In June, the Senate referred Australia’s faunal extinction crisis to the Environment and Communications References Committee for inquiry. This inquiry aims to address over 12 important aspects of the crisis such as the wider ecological impacts of faunal extinction and the adequacy of Commonwealth environment laws. Earlier this year, the inquiry accepted submissions for consideration and we felt like we had a lot to say on the subject.

One of our very own board directors, Zara Bending produced a thought-provoking and informative submission which aims to paint an accurate picture of Australia’s faunal extinction crisis under its current management. The inquiry received over 174 submissions and we hope it brings about much needed progress in protecting Australia’s extraordinary fauna. We urge you to have a read of the Submission for Inquiry.

You can also stay up to date with the progress of the inquiry, which you can track via the Parliament of Australia website.

 

Senate Inquiry into Australia’s Faunal extinction crisis

Australia has one of the worst faunal extinction records on Earth. A reasonable way to compare Australia’s extinction rate with other nations is to look at the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List.

According to the IUCN, only three countries have lost more animal species than Australia. Australia is fourth (behind USA, Mauritius, French Polynesia) across about 250 countries that the Red List covers.

Dr Jane with a critically endangered Australian Bilby

Currently, the Australian Senate is holding an inquiry into Australia’s Faunal extinction crisis including the wider ecological impact of faunal extinction, the adequacy of Commonwealth environment laws, the adequacy of monitoring and assessment practices and how effective compliance mechanisms for enforcing Commonwealth environmental law actually are.

The Jane Goodall Institute Australia (JGIA) has provided a submission to the Senate Inquiry. The submission, authored by JGIA Board and Roots & Shoots Member, Zara Bending, is available to read on the Parliament of Australia’s website.

Our great thanks and HUGE Chimp Hug to a Volunteer Hero, Debby Veldstra!

A Pant-Hoot goes out to Debby Veldstra for all her support over the past 5 years. Debby was the wizard behind the info@ email and helped keep JGIA systems up and running. She helped with tours, Gift Certificates, recruiting and was always on hand to help in any way she could.

“I have many fond memories of my time with JGIA. The organisation is close to my heart and always will be. One of my favourite moments is Jane Goodall talking to my daughter in the back of my car, driving to the youth conference in Geelong (3 June 2014). Amazing ladies, spread over generations“.

JGIA does not manage to do what we do without the generous support of volunteers. So, we thank you Debby, from all of the team and we wish you all the best in your future endeavours.

Debby’s daughter with Jane in 2014

See Chimps and Gorillas in this African Tour supporting the Jane Goodall Institute

Together with our partner Raw Africa Eco-Tours, we are offering a trip of a lifetime. This 14 day adventure through Uganda includes visits to Jane Goodall Institute programs, get the chance to see an array of African wildlife like chimpanzees, gorillas, hippos, rhinos, lions and more.

The trip includes all transfers, transport, accommodation (9 nights guest house and 4 nights eco lodge) and itinerary meals, with a maximum group size of 10.

The next trip leaves in February 2019, but hurry there are only 2 places left!

For more information and to book email team@rawafricaecotours.com.au and quote: JGI ecosafari.

Key Staff Changes at JGIA

We are delighted to share the news that our CEO, Nancy Moloney, is adding another member to the Jane Goodall Institute Australia family! Nancy is going on maternity leave shortly and whist she will remain on the Board during her year’s leave, we have welcomed James Forbes as our Interim CEO.

James has more than 10 years’ experience working in senior management roles at WWF and the Nature Conservation Trust – both well established and successful wildlife and environmental for-purpose organisations. He was most recently the Advancement Director at the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation. James has qualifications in marketing, communications and leadership. He is an experienced and successful leader, fundraiser and also has experience in event management. In 2016 James was a finalist in the CEO Magazine’s Executive of the Year award for the not for profit category. But, best of all, James has a strong passion for animals and the environment.

We are also very pleased to share that we have a new R&S General Manger, Margaret Morton, on the team. Margaret is former science teacher who went on to play critical roles with some very successful charities: Lifeline (Acting CEO/GM), St John Ambulance (CEO) and St Vincent de Paul (CEO). Her impressive CV also includes an MBA, Bachelor of Ed and Teaching Diploma so she will be a great overall addition to our family and helping us grow Roots & Shoots.

Please join us in warmly welcoming James and Margaret to JGIA and wishing Nancy all the best for her upcoming baby journey!