30 Million Trees

When Wangari Muta Maathai was named the winner of the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize, the Nobel Committee made the connection between peace and sustainability explicit.  Upon receiving the prize, Maathai spoke of this connection:  “I believe the Nobel committee was sending a message that protecting and restoring the environment contributes to peace; it is peace work. That was gratifying. I always felt that our work was not simply about planting trees. It was about inspiring people to take charge of their environment, the system that governed them, their lives and their future. With the Prize I realized that the world was listening. Just about an hour after receiving the news, I celebrated by planting a tree in Nyeri, my home region, in the face of Mount Kenya. Throughout my life, the mountain has been an inspiration, as it was to generations before me. I called on all those who care for the environment around the world to plant a tree, too. I hope millions are planted.”

Through Maathai’s inspiration and leadership the Kenya-based Green Belt Movement has planted well over 30 million trees.  When her husband was seeking a seat in Kenya’s parliament, Maathai listened to the stories of the women.  They had no jobs.  In their villages there was no wood for building houses, or for cooking.  They had to walk great distances for clean water.  It was difficult to feed their families.  Newer cash crops had led to deforestation and the once clean streams were clogged with silt.

“As I tried to understand these issues, I suggested to the women that we can plant trees.  At least, I thought, it can provide firewood, fencing material, protection against soil erosion.  I thought about that because it was easy.  It was do-able.  It wasn’t something that required a lot of money or technology.  So I said let us plant trees.”  (From “2004’s Nobel Peace Prize Winner Looks Back,” Petra Cahill, MSNBC News, October 6, 2005)

In its simplest form, the Green Belt Movement pays Kenyan women to plant tree seedlings on both public and private lands.  Beyond that, it seeks to educate and build community.  As native trees are preserved and the environment enhanced, the women find dignity, connection and a future.  Through the Pan African Green Belt Network, similar programs have spread to other African countries.

To read more:  www.greenbeltmovement.org

 

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