What's New
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Climate change poses one of the greatest challenges facing the world in the 21st century. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC) notes that climate change, if not tackled, will have severe negative impacts on global water supply, agricultural yields, forest ecosystems and the spread of vector-borne diseases, and could result in the displacement of thousands of people from coastal cities and small islands. This has led the Kenyan government to put in place a Climate Change Action Plan 2013- 2017 to make sure the country is ready and able to adapt to and reduce these potentially devastating effects against the country and its communities.
Recent News
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September 11th, 2014
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September 9th, 2014
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September 9th, 2014
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September 8th, 2014
Our Impact
This interactive map shows the location of more than 3,987 Green Belt Movement-supported tree nurseries across Kenya. These community tree nurseries produce more than 8 million indigenous seedlings annually!
Using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) we record the location of the tree nurseries, and monitor the progress of the trees planted to ensure high survival rates. Mapping tree-planting sites ensures that our efforts are helping to restore critical watersheds.
Click on the map to zoom in and see the location of our tree nurseries and information about the community groups which care for them.
Wangari Maathai's Legacy
"Each of us can make a difference, and together accomplish what might seem impossible."
Wangari Maathai (1940–2011) was the founder of the Green Belt Movement and the Wangari Maathai Institute. Her life was a series of firsts: the first woman to gain a Ph.D. in East and Central Africa; the first female chair of a department at the University of Nairobi; and the first African woman and the first environmentalist to receive the Nobel Peace Prize (2004). Honoured throughout the world for her work for the environment, democracy, and peace, Professor Maathai was the author of four books including her autobiography: Unbowed and the subject of a documentary film, Taking Root.
Who We Are
Founded in 1977 by Professor Wangari Maathai, the Green Belt Movement (GBM) has planted over 51 million trees in Kenya. GBM works at the grassroots, national, and international levels to promote environmental conservation; to build climate resilience and empower communities, especially women and girls; to foster democratic space and sustainable livelihoods.
Get Involved
Be a Hummingbird! Plant a tree in your neighborhood, download teaching materials, or help fund our projects in Kenya. However you choose to help, we hope you’ll keep in touch and, as Professor Maathai used to say: do the best you can!
