Jeffrey Gibbs
I tell stories through writing, photography, multi-media slide shows, and fireside chats. I'm also a campaigner, educator, and adventure traveller. The initiatives I’ve spearheaded have involved thousands of people around the world in learning about, and advocating for, protecting the threatened natural wonders of our planet.
A little story to introduce myself
When I was 17, I went hiking by myself in the ancient forests of a remote island on the Pacific coast of Canada. As dusk fell, I encountered a pack of wolves, who soon surrounded me — growling and flashing their fangs. I was terrified and ran deep into the forest and found a huge hollow tree to take refuge in. The wolves then left me alone, as if repelled by a force surrounding the tree. I stayed all night within the belly of that mighty tree and even slept well. In the morning, I set up my camera and snapped this photograph of me and the tree that took me in for the night. It's no wonder that I care for trees given how well they've treated me.
What I'm grateful for
I've been fortunate to have experienced many spectacular threatened ecosystems around the world and to have felt a strong sense of camaraderie from working closely with Indigenous and local communities, scientists, campaigners, young people, and some unlikely allies as we endeavoured to protect those places against overwhelming odds. Some of the countries and regions I’m most passionate about include the otherworldly realm that is Madagascar, the vast and marvellous Amazon rainforest, the megafauna ecosystems of East Africa, the enlightened Himalayan nation of Bhutan, the luxuriant coral reefs of the Solomon Islands, the waterfall wonderland in the jungle-clad table-top mountains of southern Venezuela, and most especially the verdant islands of Haida Gwaii, my spiritual home base.
Highlights of the journey
My setbacks and failures along the way have been numerous and always heart-wrenching but here are three of the successes:
At age 16, created a youth-run organization that involved several thousand people of all ages in education and advocacy efforts to help the Haida Indigenous people protect the ancient temperate rainforests of Haida Gwaii, an archipelago in the North Pacific Ocean. I developed a strong bond with the Haida that endures to this day. During this period, two Haida Matriarchs gave me the name Kuuyaa (Precious).
Co-founded a globe-spanning volunteer program for WWF (the world's largest nature conservation organization) which has enabled hundreds of young adults to spent several months volunteering in remote areas of developing nations, living with villagers and working alongside local WWF staff on a gamut of community assistance and nature protection projects.
Created the LIFEboat Flotilla, a large scale annual experiential nature education program, which was at once a ship-based expedition and a travelling conference. Each year the LIFEboat Flotilla brought together two hundred teenaged environmental leaders and one hundred educators (e.g. Dr. Jane Goodall and Jean-Michel Cousteau) on a fleet of fifteen ships for a journey off Canada’s Pacific coast.
“I have such high regard for all you have accomplished...You are amazing...You are an inspiration.” — Dame Jane Goodall
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I send out a concise newsletter intermittently depending on what experiences I have to share (it may only be once or twice a year). This newsletter features photo galleries, video clips, and ways to get involved in activities that shape a better world. Just fill in the form below.