'Without hope we're doomed': Legendary conservationist Jane Goodall graces Taronga Zoo

Dozens of students met legendary conservationist Jane Goodall at Sydney's Taronga Zoo today as part of her youth action group.

Goodall met with students from the Jane Goodall Institute's Roots and Shoots program, which runs in 70 countries as a way to get young people thinking about conservation solutions to modern-day environmental challenges.

Goodall was inspired to start the program in Tanzania in 1991, which was her home at the time, after a group of 12 local kids expressed their concern for the planet's future.

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"It was when there was a United Nations in New York and so I brought my Roots and Shoots groups from around the world and from there it just grew," Goodall said.

"Hope is really, really important, without hope we're doomed, we're literally doomed."

Zavier, 12, said it was "a pleasure" to meet the conservationist.

"I got a mini-grant for her organisation roots and shoots and now I have my own YouTube channel and I'm lucky enough to meet her in person," he said.

Minister for Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Heritage Penny Sharpe said the zoo was "privileged' to have a "living legend" visit.

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Goodall developed a breakthrough approach to the conservation of the chimpanzee and made what's considered one of the greatest achievements of the 20th century when she discovered that chimps make and use tools like humans do.

She has dedicated her life to chimpanzee conservation, starting in the forest of Gombe in 1960.

"I already felt that I belonged to this new forest world, that this was where I was meant to be," she said.