We are deeply saddened that Jane Goodall has left this earth.

Eleven months ago, we celebrated an evening of hope with her in Eberswalde, her last public appearance in Germany. She also planted a tree of hope on the forest campus of the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development. In gratitude for Jane’s perseverance in fighting for the habitat we all share, we chose a service tree, one of the trees with the hardest wood in Central Europe.

We visited the old beech forest of Grumsin north of Eberswalde with Jane. In a personal letter after her visit with us, she wrote, among other things: “The walk in the beech wood is something I shall remember always and when I feel bogged down by the pressure of endless travel I shall close my eyes and wish myself back into the beauty of the forest. Thank you for sharing it with me”.

Dear Jane, we now wish you eternal rest in the beauty of the forests and all of nature. We will always remember how you looked at the forest and spoke to our students. Our encounter with you gave us an indelible sense of purpose and motivation.