Wangari Maathai, a prominent environmentalist and founder of the Green Belt Movement in Kenya, passed away at 71. She was praised by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as a global champion for human rights, women’s empowerment, and environmental protection. Maathai’s Green Belt Movement planted millions of trees in Africa, empowering women and combating deforestation. She was also a patron of the UN Environment Program and a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004. Maathai’s legacy includes her lifelong commitment to environmental sustainability, women’s empowerment, and her role as a UN Messenger of Peace. Born in Kenya, she was the first woman in East and Central Africa to earn a doctorate. She served as a member of Kenya’s Parliament and assistant minister for environment and natural resources.
