By Assad Serhal, Director General of SPNL (BirdLife Lebanon),
Winner of the Midori Prize for Biodiversity 2018,
Honorary Member of IUCN
The conservation world bows its head in sorrow. With the passing of Dr. Jane Goodall at 91, we lose not only a scientist of unmatched brilliance but also a moral compass for humanity’s relationship with nature. Her life and work continue to guide us — from the forests of Gombe to communities across the globe.
A Shared Honor at IUCN
In 2021, at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Marseille, I was deeply honored to be awarded Honorary Membership of IUCN, the Union’s highest distinction. That year, this recognition was also conferred on Dr. Jane Goodall (UK), Cacique Raoni (Brazil), and Dr. Richard Watling (Fiji).
Although Jane could not be present in person, her name carried a resonance across the hall. It reminded us that Honorary Membership is not only about recognition, but about celebrating lives that have redefined conservation. To be named in the same class as Jane Goodall was profoundly humbling.
The Scientist Who Changed Humanity’s Story
Jane entered the forests of Gombe in 1960, armed with little more than patience, binoculars, and vision. What she discovered — tool use, social complexity, emotional depth among chimpanzees — revolutionized science. She erased the line that humans had drawn between ourselves and the animal world.
Her discoveries inspired debates about what it means to be human and ignited new movements for animal rights and conservation. Her books and documentaries captivated global audiences, turning the chimpanzees of Gombe into household names and making Jane Goodall an icon of compassion and science.
Beyond Science: A Voice of Hope
What truly set Jane apart was her refusal to remain in the ivory tower of research. She became a global advocate, a mentor, and a tireless traveler. Through Roots & Shoots, she empowered millions of young people to care for their environment and communities. Even in her later years, she never stopped speaking out, reminding us that hope is not naïve optimism but the most powerful tool for change.
Inspiration for Lebanon and the Arab World
As someone who has spent my life working to revive Lebanon’s Hima system of community-based conservation, I have always looked to Jane’s work as proof that local traditions and global science can merge to protect both people and nature. Her message resonates deeply in Lebanon and across the Arab region, where environmental protection must overcome conflict, neglect, and fragility.
Farewell to a Fellow Honorary Member
Today I mourn not only a global icon but a fellow Honorary Member of IUCN. To have been recognized in the same class as Jane Goodall is a bond I will always treasure. Her extraordinary legacy reminds us that one person, with courage and compassion, can transform the world.
Jane’s light will continue to shine in every forest, every child planting a tree, every chimpanzee still roaming free, and every community protecting its land and wildlife.
Rest in peace, Jane. Your extraordinary legacy will forever guide us — in Lebanon, across the Arab world, and in every corner of the Earth you so deeply loved.
