History - Green Belt Movement

Our History

The Green Belt Movement (GBM) was founded by Professor Wangari Maathai in 1977 under the auspices of the National Council of Women of Kenya (NCWK) to respond to the needs of rural Kenyan women who reported that their streams were drying up, their food supply was less secure, and they had to walk further and further to get firewood for fuel and fencing.

Our Journey of Empowerment

A legacy built on environmental stewardship, democratic action, and global advocacy.

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Understanding the Root Causes

Professor Maathai recognized that poverty, environmental degradation, and food insecurity were symptoms of deeper issues—disempowerment, disenfranchisement, and lost communal values. Through Community Empowerment and Education seminars, the Green Belt Movement helped people uncover the political and social roots of their challenges and reawaken their capacity to make change.

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Advocating for Justice

As the movement evolved, it became a voice for democracy and environmental justice. From fighting illegal land grabbing and opposing deforestation to defending public spaces like Uhuru Park and calling for the release of political prisoners, the Green Belt Movement proved that environmental care and civil rights are deeply intertwined.

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A Global Impact

Receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 elevated both Professor Maathai and the Green Belt Movement globally. As a Goodwill Ambassador for the Congo Basin Forest, she championed conservation on the world stage. Her writings and the film "Taking Root" continue to inspire global action toward sustainability, equality, and peace.

The work of Professor Maathai and the Green Belt Movement continues to stand as a testament to the power of grassroots organizing, proof that one person’s simple idea—that a community should come together to plant trees, can make a difference. Her legacy truly lives on through the Movement which to date remains in the frontline of advocating for environmental conservation in Kenya, and making great progress on reclaiming and restoring forest land.

The Movement continues to expand its horizon to include community development work encompassing the arenas of environmental conservation, democracy, community empowerment and conflict resolution, as Wangari envisioned.

Grow Trees, Grow Hope

Together, we can restore Kenya’s forests, protect our environment, and empower communities.
Join the movement that’s turning green dreams into action.

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