Marking Wangari Maathai Day 2025

Joint Statement by The Green Belt Movement and the Conservation Alliance of Kenya

The first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize was Wangari Maathai from Kenya. She was awarded the prize in 2004 for her contributions to sustainable development, democracy, and peace. Maathai was the founder of the Green Belt Movement, which focused on environmental conservation and women's empowerment through tree planting. Her work helped promote ecological sustainability and social justice, making her a global symbol of grassroots activism. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf then became the 2nd African woman to win the noble peace prize. 

Deforestation comes to mind, especially in places like the Congo Basin. Desertification in the Sahel is caused by overgrazing, deforestation, and climate change. Water scarcity in regions like the Horn of Africa, affecting countries like Somalia. Pollution in cities like Lagos or Nairobi with air and plastic pollution. Biodiversity hotspots like the Congo Basin and the threats they face from logging and mining. Also, coastal erosion in West Africa due to rising sea levels.Climate change impacts like droughts and floods are probably significant too. Water scarcity might be another point, especially in North Africa. Pollution from urbanization and industrialization could be a challenge as well. Loss of biodiversity due to habitat destruction and poaching. Maybe also waste management issues, especially with plastic in cities. There is also air pollution in cities like Cairo and Johannesburg and plastic pollution in Nairobi.

We call out the failure by the Kenyan Government to conserve natural resources and instead the greed to develop properties persists at the expense of environmental conservation. Kenya’s forests are under siege with rapid urban expansion and unregulated development.

Today we remember Wangari Maathai—an environmental visionary, human rights advocate, and Nobel Laureate. She fought for the conservation of ecosystems and key water towers including the Aberdare. Despite existing conservation policies, environmental mismanagement of Mau Forest, Karura, and Suam are examples of unprecedented destruction.

We need stronger governance and accountability to ensure sustainable land use practices. Water towers, a natural resource should be protected rather than misused to ensure water security. In this way, livelihoods will be spared from unnecessary harm. Professor Maathai once stated, "There comes a time when humanity must shift to a new imperative". There is so much deforestation around Nairobi, it has reduced the availability of green spaces and degraded air quality.

We are hear today to remember the enduring legacy of Professor Wangari Maathai. We call for: 

Leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders to fulfill their duty of environmental stewardship. 

Relentless pursuit of environmental justice to  inspire action in Kenya and beyond.

The Green Belt Movement and the Conservation Alliance of Kenya urge the Kenyan Government to do the following:

Protecting Kenya’s forests is not merely an ecological necessity but a moral and national source of pride. At times the value of a country should be viewed beyond just GDP growth and the inflation rate.

We call on all stakeholders—government agencies, civil society, and the general public to act in their various ways through advocasy and various community initiatives. These small steps will create transformational changes. The time for action is now. Our forests, water towers, and future generations depend on our initiatives. Viva current generation, it's time to stand up and be counted for fighting for the sake of future generations who will benefit from our conservation efforts.