GBM Blog

On September 19th and 20th, students at Yale's School of Forestry and Environmental Studies hosted a two day symposium celebrating Wangari Maathai's legacy and discussed Africa's environmental future.  The event, "Africa's Green Future: Nurturing the Vision of Wangari Maathai" featured a viewing of Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari Maathai as well as a discussion with filmmakers Lisa Merton and Alan Dater, an interview with Wanjira Mathai, a panel discussion of African scholars, workshops, and a ceremonial tree planting in honor of Wangari Maathai.

The event was particularly poignant considering Professor Maathai was a former Dorothy S. McCluskey Visiting Fellow in Conservation at Yale.

Wanjira Mathai, Professor Maathai's daughter and the Project Leader for the Wangari Maathai Institute for Peace & Environmental Studies discussed growing up with Professor Maathai as her mother as well as her mother's influence on her life and career.  In addition, the event explored how Professor Maathai's type of community-based advocacy can help African communities respond to the challenges of the 21st century, including natural resource management, land rights and women's rights, forest conservation and climate change.

Below, please find some pictures of the event.  You may read more about the event here.

From L to R: Wanjira Mathai, a Yale student, Mia MacDonald - GBMIUS Board Chair, Lauren Berger - GBMIUS Office Administrator, Njeri Gakonyo - GBMI Kenya Board Chair, and Elsa Lindkvist

GGBM materials at the event

Wanjira Maathai being interviewed by Yale Professor Maria Ivanova

Yale students plant a tree in honor of Wangari Maathai