Dr. Wangari Maathai, an environmentalist from Kenya who deeply cared for others through environmental and social activism. In 1977, she founded the Green Belt Movement which planted more than 10 million trees over the course of time to combat soil erosion and provide firewood for cooking. Previous to the Green Belt Movement, only 9 out of 100 trees were replanted in Kenya causing wide-spread deforestation, inadequate soil drainage, and water pollution. The women of Kenya were the driving force behind the movement as they gained employment for planting new trees in the deforested regions of Kenya due to logging. With the wages earned, Kenyan women were able to find income generating investments and provide for their families.
The Green Belt Movement expanded internationally and helped many countries around the world. This week we are celebrating Dr. Wangari Maathai for her undying passion to help people and the environment. Because of her efforts, many generations will benefit from her dream of planting “just one tree”.
For more information on Dr. Wangari Maathai and the Green Belt Movement, please visit: The Greenbelt Movement
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