JACKSON HOLE, Wyo., Sept. 18, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
GREAT APES SUMMIT - Sep 21-24 - Jackson Hole, WY
Keynote by Jane Goodall, PhD, DBE, Founder - the Jane Goodall Institute, UN Messenger of Peace and GRASP Ambassador
Live-Streamed from Summit Sunday, Sep 22 - 7pm EDT - Convened by the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival, Great Apes Survival Partnership and the Arcus Foundation – Daily Video News Updates will be posted on Facebook
The great apes face possible extinction within our lifetime. Their numbers are being decimated by habitat loss, geopolitical conflict, disease, illegal trade and even consumption as food.
The Great Apes Summit will take place September 21-24 in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Leading experts from around the world will gather to focus on issues threatening the long-term survival of gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos and orangutans in Africa and Asia. Hosted by the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival, the Great Apes Survival Partnership (GRASP), and the Arcus Foundation, the Summit will feature a keynote address by world-renowned primatologist Jane Goodall, PhD, DBE, Founder - the Jane Goodall Institute (www.janegoodall.org), UN Messenger of Peace and GRASP Ambassador, major plenary sessions and numerous panels.
Speakers include: Google executive Michael Jones, anti-poaching specialist Damien Mander, Harvard professor Richard Wrangham, Conservation International president Russell Mittermeier, Greenpeace advocate Rolf Sklar, Uganda Wildlife Authority director Andrew Seguya, PETA vice-president Dan Mathews, and Volcanoes Safaris director Praveen Moman.
Great ape advocates, public policy experts, media professionals, range state leaders and program funders will attend the Great Apes Summit. In addition, to fully understanding the challenges that face the great apes, this summit will seek to explore new approaches and solutions to turn this trend around.
Summit Themes: Discussions at the Summit will be grouped under three themes – "Consumption," "Ethics," and "Going Forward" – and will utilize moderated panel discussions to tackle major issues such as industrial agriculture, illegal trade, ecotourism, and zoonotic diseases. Parallel "Field Notes" sessions will highlight frontline conservation projects.
The Summit will coincide with the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival September 23-27. Lisa Samford, Executive Director of the Festival, worked closely with Doug Cress, the Program Coordinator for the UN Great Apes Survival Partnership (GRASP) and Annette Lanjouw, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives & the Great Apes Program at the Arcus Foundation, to thematically anchor the programming on great apes and conservation with sessions and screenings specifically targeting the issues and challenges faced by great ape advocates.
Daily Video Updates: In addition to the live-stream of Jane Goodall's address, the Summit will also produce and post daily video updates including interviews with speakers and panelists. These segments will be anchored by journalist Asha Tanna posted on the Summit's Facebook page – www.facebook.com/jacksonholesummit and on YouTube for easy access and linking.
Live Stream: Jane Goodall's address will be live-streamed on Sunday, Sep 22, 7:00 PM EDT
Video of Summit: Videos of all the panels and speakers will be posted on YouTube in mid-October.
Tickets: Tickets are still available for the Summit and Film Festival- get them here
Media Attendance: All sessions are open to the media, journalists and bloggers. To apply for media credentials, contact Juli-anne Whitney Jensen - - 917-741-5674
GRASP is a unique alliance of nations, research institutions, United Nations (U.N.) agencies, conservation organizations and private supporters committed to protecting great apes and their habitats in Africa and Asia. GRASP is the U.N.'s only species-specific conservation programme, and is jointly hosted by the U.N. Environment Programme (UNEP) and the U.N. Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Arcus Foundation: Founded in 2000 by Jon Stryker, the Arcus Foundation's mission is to ensure conservation and respect of the great apes and to achieve social justice that is inclusive of sexual orientation, gender identity and race. Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival convenes an unparalleled five-day industry gathering that draws filmmakers and broadcasters from around the world to hone skills, explore emerging media technologies and market opportunities, network and exchange ideas, and honor notable achievements within the industry. This year's conference is slated for Sept 23-27