His eyes light up when you remember the first time I saw a chimpanzee. It has already been 13 years, but still remembers it and tells with clarity: “it Was in the Sanctuary of Kenya. And I was fascinated. Scampered on all sides, I climbed over, grab me… they Were full of energy”. After that came the visit to the National Park of Gombe in Tanzania, where he was impressed by the interaction between these animals, and also by the silence that envelops the minutes subsequent to their hunting activities. Kenyan Alice Macharia turned that fascination in his work. At 44 years old, and as vice chair of the Jane Goodall Institute for Africa, fight for the conservation of chimpanzees and their environments through raising awareness of local communities, among other pathways. Macharia visited Madrid in November, where he received, on behalf of the agency, the award to the biodiversity conservation of the BBVA Foundation.
Question. chimpanzees face extinction. What are the main threats?
Response. Both in Tanzania as in the rest of the continent, the threats are increasing and depend on the area. Sometimes it is agriculture, which occupies the ecosystem of the chimpanzees; in other areas it is hunting, disease… that Is why we try to know the area very well to develop effective measures. And the only way to do this is to deal with local institutions, which have the responsibility to protect those animals. We build links to get involved.
Q. And what role do communities have?
A. Have a crucial role because they are in the first line of action. For example, through the neighbors, we realized that there was a problem with the grazing. Until they reported, not what we had in mind. And, in fact, is a huge threat. The goal is to be able to anticipate what is coming, understand it and find solutions, involving to all the agents possible. We need them to also be receptive and empaticen. They understand that they also benefits them.
Q. what they are getting?
A. more and more, although it takes time. There are communities that have their own groups to patrol the forest and to detect changes that are occurring. Point in a tablet which we have given if someone has cut a tree or if there is someone pastoring… do Not take any action, only pass the part of the authorities. And then they act. Only we will protect the chimps if the local communities are on the front line. Jane Goodall saw it clearly: we have to learn to work from the perspective of the local communities for the conservation of chimpanzees endure.
Q. what Is climate change another threat?
A. Is a contributing factor. And that is of concern to the communities and that we have been noticing us, too. Climate change is a factor to be taken into account in our work, to reconsider the crops, the following constructions and even change our habits and adapt.
Q. Jane Goodall said, “Each one of us matters. Each individual has a role to play. Each individual makes a difference”. How can each individual sum?
A. you’re in Tanzania or sitting here in Madrid, each one has a role that is interconnected with the rest. When we talked about climate change, for example, you realize that it all affects us. We have to be aware of our actions: what we eat, whether we recycle or not… and to be activists.
Q. Gives the impression that young people are rising up in this fight against climate change. What happens like in Tanzania?
A. Exactly. Before the start of the conservation programme in Tanzania, in 1991, Jane sat down with a group of young people were worried about the future of their communities and created the program Roots and Shoots, a youth movement of young people that is making a change in communities, the flora and the fauna. Since then there are schools with animal shelters, mapping activities, gardens of medicinal plants that are being lost, adolescents who are left to clean up the beaches… The young people are mobilizing with a lot of force and energy according to the needs of their communities.
