Wangari Maathai sets example with tree planting
Maathai brings her colourful personality to climate proceedings (Photo: KR)Wangari Maathai, Nobel Laureate and environmental campaigner began with a simple idea that blossomed into a world movement
by Katie Rice
When Kenyan humanitarian and environmental activist, Wangari Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement to plant trees in an effort to preserve the geography and livelihoods in her region she was told by sceptical forest rangers that she needed a degree to know how to plant trees.
“I just laughed at him.”
Maathai and her organisation are still laughing at the thought that local women couldn’t be educated enough to plant trees and not only improve their land through water retention and less soil erosion, but earn a small income for their families as well.
Since 1977, the organization has planted more than 45 million trees and has formed the basis for changing attitudes in Kenya and farther afield in Africa: an effort that was recognized by the Nobel committee when Maathai was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004.
“If you look at the roots, we’re not only planting trees, we’re planting seeds of peace, seeds for democracy and sees for human rights.”
Maathai was in Copenhagen this week to add her voice to the masses of organisations, countries and prominent guests calling for a fair, just and binding agreement to be reached at COP15.
She said she was encouraged to see so many heads of state showing their support for a deal by attending the conference and hopes the political will can be transformed into a legally binding deal.
But Maathai recognised the frustrations of developing and small island nations, which has not gone unnoticed at a conference peppered with negotiations suspended and walkouts – the most recent just yesterday.
“I think developing countries are trying to stress that has science has indicated especially those in Africa and the island nations are likely to be most negatively impacted by climate change and they want to see serious, ambitious commitments. Because for many of them it’s a matter of life and death.”
The Nobel Laureate also raised serious concerns about funding carbon reducing projects and said the issue of financing adaptation needs to be seriously addressed by negotiators.
According to the Green Belt Movement the start up costs for a project run to at least $20,000 for the proposal alone, especially when expensive consultants have to be hired by local groups to help them with the application process.
In addition to speaking with negotiators and NGOs, Maathai also met with World Bank representatives while in Copenhagen.
“I told them it’s virtually impossible for communities to produce money up front. It has to be institutions that make it possible for communities to succeed.”
Maathai may have degrees and a Nobel Prize to her name, but that did not lessen her message, nor that of Samuel Naikada – a forestry project coordinator of his local Maasai community in Kenya.
Naikada accompanied Maathai in spreading the message of preventing deforestation and told delegates of the first hand effects on his people. The increasing drought in Kenya has taken its toll on the livelihoods of many of the Maasai.
According to Naikada, the community’s eco-friendly employment opportunities such as bee-keeping and nature walks through the nearby forest are increasing affected by climate change.
“The trees don’t flower so there’s nothing for the bees and we’re seeing worrying changes in animal behaviour like for the first time baboons are forced to feed on young goats and sheep out of hunger.”
