As a child, Jane Goodall thought she was the better Jane for Tarzan.

Decades later, after becoming the most famous primatologist in history and one of the most renowned scientists of the 20th century, Goodall is urging young people to embrace their wild sides just as she did — through conservation.

“If the young people give up, we might as well eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die,” she told a crowd of about 100 people Tuesday at the Duke Lemur Center, the home base for her past, current and future research.

“But they’re not giving up.”

Goodall participated in Primate Palooza, an annual, weeklong celebration about primate and biodiversity conservation.

The celebration included a number of events hosted by the UNC/Duke branch of Roots and Shoots, Goodall’s global environment and humanitarian program for youth. Roots and Shoots is represented in 126 countries, Goodall said.

To conclude Primate Palooza, students, children and community members marched on Tuesday behind Goodall through the Duke Lemur Center. Goodall told the crowd of toddlers, elementary school children, teachers and senior citizens of the importance of conservation through protecting forests.

“I look down at the young ones there and I think about how much we’ve harmed this beautiful planet since I was their age,” she said. “It really makes you feel desperate.”

Goodall said she believes the power for change lies with the youth, which is the reason she puts so much effort into encouraging their involvement.

“Roots and Shoots is probably the most important thing I’ve started,” she said.

UNC and Duke students collaborated to establish a Roots and Shoots chapter two years ago, and in fall 2010 it became an official student organization at Duke.

Junior Isaac Jaben, one of two UNC students involved, said they are debating whether or not to establish an official group at UNC.

“The big problem is just the logistics since most of what we do is at the Lemur Center, which isn’t on the Robertson bus line,” Jaben said. “If we decide to make it bigger, it will be stuff other than the Lemur Center, which is a possibility.”

Jaben added that their decision will be largely based on the amount of student interest at UNC.

“We don’t want to compete with all the other environmental groups,” he said. “We’re trying to carve out a niche for ourselves.”

The other UNC student involved was senior Chase Pickering, who not only helped found the UNC/Duke Roots and Shoots chapter but also served as a member of the Jane Goodall Institute’s board of directors for four years, he said.

“I travel a lot for meetings, but I love the local part,” he said, adding that the organization travels to local schools to encourage students’ involvement in science.

“That’s what Roots and Shoots is really all about — getting out there and rolling up your sleeves.”

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