By Kevin O’Hara, Lead of 1t.org US Chapter
On March 25, we were honored to gather in Washington, D.C. for the 1t.org US Forest Partners Convening, a pivotal moment to reflect on our journey and reimagine our impact at the halfway point of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. What made the evening truly unforgettable was the presence of Dr. Jane Goodall — scientist, activist and UN Messenger of Peace — whose words brought wisdom, urgency and a deeply rooted optimism that stirred something profound in all of us.
I’ve admired Dr. Goodall my entire life, but hearing her speak in person was something else entirely. With calm conviction, she reminded us that hope is not passive. It’s a discipline. It’s a call to action. She spoke of her early love of nature, her pioneering research with chimpanzees, and the transformation she underwent at a pivotal 1986 conference — from scientist to activist — when she saw the forests she loved disappearing and realized she could no longer just observe. She had to act.
What struck me most, though, was her message about the interconnectedness of nature and people, and her unwavering belief that we all have a role to play. That spirit of hope, grounded in truth and urgency, stayed with me. Just days after the convening, I traveled with my wife and two children to Kenya for our Spring Break trip — a safari adventure that became so much more meaningful in the wake of our gathering.
Driving through the savannas of Kenya, watching elephants amble across the horizon and giraffes feed from acacia trees, I saw the types of landscapes Dr. Goodall has spent a lifetime protecting. I saw what’s at stake. But I also saw what’s possible when communities come together to safeguard their natural heritage. My children asked many, MANY questions, pointed out wildlife with wonder, and — without knowing it — began to understand what stewardship means. That, to me, is the definition of hope: the next generation discovering their place in the story.
One of our final stops in Kenya was in Nairobi’s lush Karura Forest, home to another hero of mine, Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai. Protection of this sanctuary in the middle of a bustling city was part of what launched her inspirational Green Belt movement which enlisted a peaceful army of activists around the world to protect and restore forests, and plant trees. Today, thanks to the hope inspired courage of Maathai and others, Karura remains a place for the thousands of Nairobians to find quiet, bike, walk, run, or picnic among the spectacular canopy.
As I reflect on our convening and this special time with my family, I carry Jane’s final message with me: “We must never give up.” Now is the time for each of us to stand up for our forests — not just as climate solutions, but as sanctuaries for biodiversity, culture and human resilience.
Join us. Let’s protect and restore forests — for the planet, for the people and for the generations yet to come.
