Wangari Maathai
A Kenyan environmental and political activist who founded the Green Belt Movement and became the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize
Mobilizing ordinary rural women to plant trees as a form of both environmental restoration and grassroots political empowerment, this activist's simple idea grew into a movement spanning millions of trees.
Founding the Green Belt Movement
Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement in 1977, mobilizing rural Kenyan women to plant trees, addressing both environmental degradation and community economic empowerment.
Connecting Environment and Democracy
Maathai's activism connected environmental conservation with broader issues of democracy and human rights, often facing significant political opposition and personal danger for her outspoken advocacy.
The First African Woman Nobel Laureate
Maathai became the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize, receiving the honor in 2004 for her contributions to sustainable development, democracy, and peace.
A Lasting Environmental Legacy
The Green Belt Movement Maathai founded has been credited with planting tens of millions of trees across Kenya, leaving a substantial and lasting environmental and social legacy.
