Jane Goodall’s Grandson Speaks in Paris

Why this is here: Roots & Shoots, the youth program founded by Jane Goodall, asks participants to identify problems within their own communities and then take direct action to address them.

Merlin Van Lawick, Jane Goodall’s grandson, presented at the ChangeNOW environmental forum in Paris five months after her death. He explained that his grandmother viewed hope not as a feeling, but as a discipline requiring consistent action. Goodall began her career with chimpanzee research in Gombe, Tanzania, and later focused on inspiring individuals to recognize animals and ecosystems as interconnected.

Van Lawick described how his grandmother led by example, encouraging awareness of consequences without demanding specific commitments. She allowed space for personal choices, even within her own family, believing that impactful change grows from individual agency. This approach informs Roots & Shoots, the youth program Goodall founded, which centers on local problem-solving and direct action.

The program asks young people to start small—planting trees, protecting animals, cleaning waterways—understanding that sustained engagement is more vital than immediate results. While Goodall’s work leaves a substantial legacy, sustaining momentum in conservation requires continuing to foster agency in others. The work of inspiring action, and addressing the limitations of simply issuing warnings, continues.