8 Things You Need To Know About The Green Belt Movement

The first idea of Green Belt Movement started as an organization called Envirocare, it was later changed to Save the Land Harambee, which was a project of the National Council of Women of Kenya (NCWK) and later became what we know of the Green Belt Movement.

The trees planted before the official work of Green Belt Movement were in honor of the 7 historical figures in Kenya that fought for independence.

Over 55 million trees have been planted by the Green Belt Movement to date.

Majority of the members of the Green Belt Movement are women. Green Belt Movement has managed to empower over 5,000 thriving community groups, 70% of these groups consist of women.

Wangari Maathai and her work in the Green Belt Movement have faced immense intimidation and government interference since its inception but the Green Belt Movement still stands.

The urban green spaces in Kenya, Uhuru Park, and Karura forest stand because of the efforts of Wangari Maathai, she fought the then government from selling the spaces to developers.

It was the efforts of Wangari Maathai that prompted the introduction of a Bill in Parliament to ensure the protection of the environment and forests.

Wangari Maathai (1940-2011) was the founder of the Green Belt Movement and the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.