Wangarĩ Maathai

**Wangarĩ Maathai** (/wænˈɡɑːri mɑːˈðaɪ/; 1 April 1940&nbsp;– 25 September 2011) na she be a Kenyan social, environmental, den political activist wey found de Green Belt Movement, an environmental non-governmental organization wey focus on planting trees, environmental conservation, den women's rights. Insyd 2004 na she cam be de first African woman to win de Nobel Peace Prize.

As a beneficiary of the Kennedy Airlift, na she study insyd de United States, earning a bachelor's degree from Mount St. Scholastica College insyd Atchison, Kansas den a master's degree from de University of Pittsburgh insyd Pittsburgh. She then cam be de first woman insyd East den Central Africa make she cam be a Doctor of Philosophy, receiving ein Ph.D. from de University of Nairobi insyd Nairobi, Kenya. Insyd 1984, na she receive de Right Livelihood Award for "converting de Kenyan ecological debate into mass action for reforestation."

Na Wangari Maathai be an elected member of de parliament of Kenya den, between January 2003 den November 2005, na she serve as de assistant minister for environment den natural resources insyd de government of Presido Mwai Kibaki. Na she be a Honorary Councillor insyd de World Future Council. As an academic den de author of chaw books, na Maathai no be an activist per buh she sanso be an intellectual wey make significant contributions to thinking about ecology, development den gender in addition to African cultures den religions. Na she die of complications from ovarian cancer on 25 September 2011.

## Early life den education
Na dem born Maathai on 1 April 1940 insyd de village of Ihithe, Nyeri District, insyd de central highlands of de colony of Kenya. Na ein family be Kikuyu, de most populous ethnic group insyd Kenya, wey na she live insyd de area for chaw generations. Around 1943, na Maathai family move go a white-owned farm insyd de Rift Valley near Nakuru, wer na ein poppie find work. Late insyd 1947, na she go back to Ihithe plus ein mommie, as na two of ein bros dey attend primary school insyd de village, wey na der be no schooling available on de farm wer na ein poppie work. Na ein poppie still dey de farm. Shortly afterward, at de age of eight, she join ein bros at Ihithe Primary School.

## Wangarĩ Maathai Forest Champion Award
Insyd 2012, na de Collaborative Partnership on Forests CPF, an international consortium of 14 organisations, secretariats den institutions wey dey work on international forest issues, launch de inaugural Wangarĩ Maathai Forest Champion Award.

Winners include:
* 2012 – Narayan Kaji Shrestha, plus an honourable mention to Kurshida Begum
* 2014 – Martha Isabel "Pati" Ruiz Corzo, plus an honourable mention to Chut Wutty
* 2015 – Gertrude Kabusimbi Kenyangi
* 2017 – Maria Margarida Ribeiro da Silva, a Brazilian forestry activist
* 2019 – Léonidas Nzigiyimpa, a Burundian forestry activist
* 2022 – Cécile Ndjebet, a Cameroonian activist
## Publications dem select
* ; (1985)
* *The bottom is heavy too: even with the Green Belt Movement : the Fifth Edinburgh Medal Address* (1994)
* *Bottle-necks of development in Africa* (1995)
* *The Canopy of Hope: My Life Campaigning for Africa, Women, and the Environment* (2002)
* *Unbowed: A Memoir* (2006) 
* *Reclaiming rights and resources women, poverty and environment* (2007)
* *Rainwater Harvesting* (2008)
* *State of the world's minorities 2008: events of 2007* (2008)
* ; (2009)
* *Moral Ground: Ethical Action for a Planet in Peril*. (2010) chapter Nelson, Michael P. and Kathleen Dean Moore (eds.). Trinity University Press, 
* *Replenishing the Earth* (2010) 
## Honours
* 1984: Right Livelihood Award
* 1986: Better World Society
* 1987: Global 500 Roll of Honour
* 1991: Goldman Environmental Prize
* 1991: The Hunger Project's Africa Prize for Leadership
* 1993: Edinburgh Medal (for "Outstanding contribution to Humanity through Science")
* 1993: Jane Addams Leadership Award
* 1993: Benedictine College Offeramus Medal
* 1994: The Golden Ark Award
* 2001: The Juliet Hollister Award
* 2003: Global Environment Award, World Association of Non-Governmental Organizations
* 2004: Conservation Scientist Award from Columbia University
* 2004: J. Sterling Morton Award
* 2004: Petra Kelly Prize
* 2004: Sophie Prize
* 2004: Nobel Peace Prize
* 2006: Légion d'honneur

* 2006: Doctor of Public Service (honorary degree), University of Pittsburgh
* 2007: World Citizenship Award
* 2007: Livingstone Medal from Royal Scottish Geographical Society
* 2007: Indira Gandhi Prize
* 2007: Cross of de Order of St. Benedict
* 2008: The Elizabeth Blackwell Award from Hobart and William Smith Colleges
* 2009: NAACP Image Award - Chairman's Award (with Al Gore)

* 2009: Grand Cordon of de Order of the Rising Sun of Japan
* 2011: The Nichols-Chancellor's Medal wey Vanderbilt University award
* 2013: Doctor of Science (honorary degree), Syracuse University, New York
* 2020: The Perfect World Award by The Perfect World Foundation

## References


### Works dem cite

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## Read further
* Namulundah Florence, *Wangari Maathai: Visionary, Environmental Leader, Political Activist*, Lantern, 2015
* Wangari Maathai, *The Greenbelt Movement: Sharing the Approach and the Experience*, Lantern Books, 2003. 
* Wangari Maathai, *The Canopy of Hope: My Life Campaigning for Africa, Women, and the Environment*, Lantern Books, 2002; 
* Wangari Maathai, *Bottom is Heavy Too: Edinburgh Medal Lecture*, Edinburgh UP, 1994. 
* Picture book (fr.), Franck Prévot (text) & Aurélia Fronty (illustrations), *Wangari Maathai, la femme qui plante des millions d'arbres*, Rue du monde, 2011 ()
## External links

* Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari Maathai documentary film
* Official Site: The Wangari Maathai Foundation
* The Green Belt Movement and Wangari Maathai
* Wangari Maathai and the Billion Tree Campaign
* Feature on Wangari Maathai by the International Museum of Women
* Seeds of change planting a path to peace
* Nobel Women's Initiative