Wangari Maathai was born in Kenya in 1940. She obtained a degree in biological sciences from Mount St. Scholastica College in Atchison, Kansas in 1964, a Master of Science degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1966, and a PhD from the University of Nairobi in 1971, where she also taught veterinary anatomy.
Maathai was the first woman in East and Central Africa to earn a doctorate degree. She became chair of the Department of Veterinary Anatomy and an associate professor in 1976 and 1977 respectively. She then served as the chairperson of the National Council of Women of Kenya from 1981 to 1987.
In 1976, Maathai introduced the idea of community-based tree planting. She continued to develop this idea into a broad-based grassroots organisation called the Green Belt Movement (GBM), aimed at poverty reduction and environmental conservation through tree planting. She addressed the UN on a number of occasions and spoke on behalf of women at special sessions of the General Assembly during the five-year review of the Earth Summit. She also served on the Commission for Global Governance and the Commission on the Future.
Maathai was awarded the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize for her "contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace." Maathai was the first African woman to receive the award. According to the Prize committee, "Maathai stood up courageously against the former oppressive regime in Kenya. Her unique forms of action have contributed to drawing attention to political oppression—nationally and internationally. She has served as inspiration for many in the fight for democratic rights and has especially encouraged women to better their situation."
From 2002 to 2007, Maathai represented the Tetu constituency in Kenya’s parliament. From 2003 to 2007, she served as Assistant Minister for Environment and Natural Resources in Kenya’s ninth parliament. She was named a UN Messenger of Peace in December 2009, with a focus on the environment and climate change. In 2010, Maathi founded the Wangari Maathai Institute for Peace and Environmental Studies in partnership with the University of Nairobi. She died in 2011 from ovarian cancer.
Maathi delivered the Beatty Lecture on February 12, 2002, titled “Standing up for the Environment".
Image: United Nations Photo Library, photographer, Mark Garten
