the history of the green belt movement
The large number of issues surrounding Kenya's forest included deforestation, extinction of vegetation, harmful agricultural practices (crops and farmland), and high amount of soil degradation (soil erosion, sediment delivery, etc.). Moreover, women throughout Kenya have been able to participate regularly within Kenyan politics, which has forced changes in Kenya to occur. With streams drying up, and poor harvests, women had to walk further and further afield in search of firewood. Specifically through the GBM, Maathai continued to foster black feminism. The GBM, the Green Cross Sweden and the Folke Bernadotte Academy were involved in promoting peace in Nakuru County, Kenya. The Movement continues to expand its horizon to include community development work encompassing the arenas of environmental conservation, democracy, community empowerment and conflict resolution, as Wangari envisioned. Maathai began with introducing tree planting programs and regimes into local communities/ targeting communities with little access basic natural resources such as water or rice. The project focused on implementing tree-planting initiatives throughout Kenya to counteract climate change effects occurring. From the violence that took place in December 2007, with 1500 deaths, and 500,000 people fled from their homes across Kenya. From the GBM involvement within Kenya, women continued to go to the GBM and seek help and resources. The Green Belt Movement instituted seminars in civic and environmental education, now called Community Empowerment and Education seminars (CEE), to encourage individuals to examine why they lacked agency to change their political, economic, and environmental circumstances. Two women looking out over a reforested land in Kenya. This event took place in two different countries, Nakuru and Baringo and consisted of over 300 people participating in the marathon. The variety of activism and political awareness that was sparked and continues to grow from the GBM can be evaluated through the lens of Black feminism. However the tree planting programs and regimes took a significant amount of time for involvement to occur within communities. The GBM partnered with its international organizations, the Green Belt Movement International–North America (GBMI-US) and the Green Belt Movement International–Europe (GBMIEurope) to organize and collect a series of resources for Kenya's GBM advocacy, project planning, and overall educational outreach programs. Moreover, the CEE provides a space for individuals to unite and discuss gender inequalities towards women in Kenya. The GBM was a part of the COP 20 Sustainable Innovation Forum that brought together world leaders, senior executives, investors and industry experts to share ideas and accelerate innovative solutions to address climate change, accelerate green growth and sustainable development. REDD is Reduced Emissions from Deforestation forest Degradation. The celebration included a public walk from Jeevanjee Garden to the Freedom Corner in Uhuru Park, Nairobi. Moreover, the project hosted several seminars which focused on community empowerment. The organized seminars facilitated by the GBM, allowed women from various rural Kenyan communities to discuss their experiences of environmental degradation, political views, discriminatory experiences, etc. "While serving in the Environment Liaison Center, Maathai was exposed to conversations regarding the environmental degradation occurring in her own backyard. Green belts were established in England from 1955 to simply prevent the physical growth of large built-up areas; to prevent neighboring cities and towns from merging. In 2009, the Mottainai campaign received a grant from the Mainichi Newspaper in Japan. The GBM projects consisted of educating communities on how to protect watersheds and how to restore natural resources/ecosystems. From her continued work, she eventually developed her ideas into an organization, known as the Green Belt Movement (GBM). The GBM continued work on its three-year watershed restoration project of Sondu Miriu River Catchment. In the early 21st century, the Green Belt Movement is now vibrant and has succeeded in achieving many of the goals it set out to meet. Through the project the restoration of the degraded forest and watershed occurred and several educational outreach initiatives and activities occurred within rural communities. The organizational structure of the Green Belt Movement includes four key departments: Each component of the Green Belt Movements structure includes a wide range of organizational factors that keep/have kept the movement going. The organizations planted 50,000 tree seedlings in the Geta Forest and trained over 600 community members on environmental management activities/practices. Lady Justice Njoki Ndung’u joining the Green Belt Movement (GBM) Board members, staff, members of GBM's tree nursery groups, and the public to celebrate Professor Wangari Maathai's life and her outstanding achievements including environmental conservation, sustainable development, democracy and peace. But nowadays, the Green Belt Movement now highlights the focus on direct social and economic transformation of communities to ensure they are not identified as having a political agenda. The rehabilitation of the forested areas included the planting of 9,420 trees on 23 acres of land. 1. Born: April 1960 in Kenya Occupation: Environmental and Political Activist, known for the Green Belt Movement Awesome Quote: “In the course of history, there comes a time when humanity is called to shift to a new level of consciousness, to reach a higher moral ground.A time when we have to shed our fear and give hope to each other. Maathai focused for efforts on battling deforestation issues, and how to fix various other forest-related issues in order to improve the overall quality of life for the women and children in Kenya. During COP 12 in Nairobi, the Green Belt Movement launched the Billion Trees Campaign in partnership with the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF). Similar concepts are greenways or green wedges which have a linear character and may run through an urban area instead of around it. Moreover, it has helped to educate the leaders and organizers of the GBM so the GBM can effectively help and access communities that especially need help. Her four books (The Green Belt Movement, Unbowed, The Challenge for Africa, and Replenishing the Earth) and the documentary Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari Maathai expanded on and deepened the key concepts behind the Green Belt Movement’s work and approach. Through the continued support of Mainichi, GBM extended the "Mottainai" campaign to Kenya in 2006 to address the issue of waste management, particularly the common use of "flimsy" plastic bags which cannot be recycled or re-used"(15). From the workshops the environmental leaders were able to learn about environmental stewardship and conservation practices within communities. Maathai spoke at the convention several times and she discussed topics on the challenges with climate change, how to build resilient climate change communities and ecosystems, and how women deserve to be a part of the political conversations/problems occurring within their communities. GBM encouraged the women to work together to grow seedlings and plant trees to bind the soil, store rainwater, provide food and firewood, and receive a small monetary token for their work. The Green Belt Movement began as a project of the National Council of Women of Kenya (NCWK), of which she was a member. Throughout the establishment of the Green Belt Movement, the movement faced a variety of problems and harassment. She founded the pioneering Green Belt Movement in 1977, which encourages people, particularly women, to plant trees to combat environmental degradation. The Green Belt Movement in context: women’s movements in Africa 2.1 Women’s movements and colonial heritage 2.2 Forging a common front 2.3 The Green Belt Movement, a pioneering non-governmental organization (NGO) Suspects arrest from the Mau Mau revolt, 1952-1960. Green Belt Movement International (GBMI). GBM raised awareness and educated communities on governance and the sustainable management of resources. The teams allowed for the community and young children to bond, participated in educational activities (besides sports) and build relationships amongst communities. ment literature with an historical analysis of Kenya's Green Belt Movement. This integrated approach is embodied by the Green Belt Movement in Kenya ( Maathai 2006) and the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. [3] "These "belts" had the advantages of providing shade and windbreaks, facilitating soil conservation, improving the aesthetic beauty of the landscape and providing habitats for birds and small animals. In 2008, the "Women for Change" program awarded much needed secondary school scholarships to nine girls and three boys – nominated by the GBM Tree planting groups. The GBM partnered with the Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI) and the World Resources and planted a total of 50,000 trees. The function of these departments has overall played a key part in maintained the success and spread GBM. UNFCCC COP 20: The 20th session of the Conference of Parties to the UNFCCC took place in Lima, Peru from December 1 to 12, 2014. English: Title: Wangari Maathai: and the green belt movement Series: UNESCO series on women in African history Other lang. The GBM finalized there plans for the improvement of the Aberdare Ecosystems, five major water towers in Kenya. Moreover, the GBM also was able to spread more global awareness and educational information (ex. Over 1500 seedlings were planted in Maragua by women who had been trained for two days on how to grow bamboo effectively. Involved in political discussions including the Shamba system, wetland management policies, and the planting of exotic trees in Kenya and in the Aberdares. They also focus on issues such as land grabbing and environmental and planning regulations. However, even after the variety of support and momentum the GBM has gained throughout the years, the politics the GBM, and all women in Kenya face, are extremely controversial and patriarchal. She began with founding the movement, but prior to founding the movement she was involved she was a part of another environmental organization. The film is now offered in Arabic, Bangla, Chinese, French, Haitian Creole, Hindi, Indonesian, Kiswahili, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese. Through coordinating meetings and international relations they are able to/have established a wide network of associates and benefited many communities. A major area of activity for the GBM is focused around there Climate Change Program. The program also provided legal air and pushed for protection over wetlands. The GBM held Cultural Biodiversity workshops in 15 schools across Kenya. According to an annual report done in 2003, ‘‘the mission of GBM is to mobilize community consciousness for self-determination, justice, equity, reduction of poverty, and environmental conservation, using trees as the entry point’’ (Green Belt Movement, 2003, p. 26 Green Volunteers that are GBM's field based volunteers reached out to more than 800 households across four project areas, distributing the message that a healthy environment supports healthy communities. The assistant project officer is in charge of supporting and attending to the project officer. GBM partnered with 15 different organizations for "One Million Signatures" campaign. There were several trials done and eventually Maathai and the various employee apart of the GBM established successful programs. Without precedence, the Kenyan government revoked the title deed of the owner of City Market, Market Plaza Limited, and left the property vulnerable to private developers. Jump up ^ Who We Are | The Green Belt Movement, 10. Her … The Green Belt Movement (GBM) was founded by Professor Wangari Maathai in 1977 under the auspices of the National Council of Women of Kenya (NCWK) to respond to the needs of rural Kenyan women who reported that their streams were drying up, their food supply was less secure, and they had to walk further and further to get firewood for fuel and fencing. After Wangari Maathai had been presented with the noble peace prize, she sits with interviewer Marika Giehsel and discusses the importance of recognition of the effects of climate change and the Greenbelt Movement. The project was located in Chepalungu Forest in Bomet County and includes the Mau Water Tower and the Migori Watershed. The GBM partnered with the Prince Albert II of Monaco, Yves Rocher, and the Schooner Foundations to integrate the rehabilitation and conservation of Kirisia Forest Watersheds. The finance department of GBM has many responsibilities and is a big part of the sustainability of the movement and organization in general. The GBM partnered with several organizations and tree nursery groups throughout the year. Jump up ^ Michaelson, M. Wangari Maathai and Kenya's Green Belt Movement: Exploring the Evolution and Potentialities of Consensus Movement Mobilization, 1994, 8. A greenbelt is a policy and land use zone designation used in land use planning to retain areas of largely undeveloped, wild, or agricultural land surrounding or neighboring urban areas. Herein, the 15-year history of the Green Belt Movement (GBM) will be divided into two major phases. The decline in available firewood meant mothers could not cook their traditional foods. The support staff is the largest sector of the department and involves the implementation and evaluation of projects, events, any other projects/relations related to the GBM. Kenya. The GBM also was able to gain much more help when it came to facilitating tree planting initiatives and educational programs. Moreover, many Kenyan women didn't have any form of legal protection or say when it came to the politics in Kenya. Eventually, the second tree planting occurred in 1979 and involved the planting of trees by hundreds of women, on a rural farm in Kenya. The program also focuses on raising awareness throughout the worldwide, targeting rural communities with educational resources, programs, and various other resources. GBM has called for, time and time again, an end to land grabbing, deforestation and corruption". To conceptualize this fast-paced activity of creating belts of trees to adorn the naked land, the name Green Belt Movement was used. 1998 - Green Belt Movement starts planting only indigenous trees. GBM partnered with Serian FM to help broadcast information that is afflicting communities' safety but to also enhance communities' awareness and education of natural resource management and sustainable development. They have gone from doing a very little amount of activism to expanding worldwide. Early history. A total of 1.2 million signatures were collected eventually leading to the arrest of the four Kenya leaders in Jan. of 2012. Known as “Green Volunteers,” these forestry specialists were trained to share messages about the links among She spread her feministic views and knowledge due to the fact she witnessed and endured a variety of discrimination, racism, and gender inequality (as a women) throughout her life. The tree seedlings were planted at the Wangari Maathai Corner in the Karura Forest. Later on, Maathai's book, The Green Belt Movement (2003) was published by Lantern Books. Kenya Forests. Green Belt Movement Essay. The first tree planting the GBH facilitate occurred on June 5, 1977, and involved seven ethnic tribes being honored through the planting of trees. "The School Environmental Education project hosted an experiential learning opportunity for 60 students from Utafiti primary school into the Aberdare Forest. GBM acquired new Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software and trained 53 extension offices on GIS techniques and programs. The world should follow Maathai’s wishes for good. Then she pursued her doctoral studies in biology at the University of Nairobi, and in Germany, which led her to obtaining her Ph.D. in biology in 1971 from the University of Nairobi. Moreover, through Maathais attitude, persistence, and overall efforts to the cause, the movement began gaining a large amount of traction within Kenya, and throughout the world. The GBM facilitated and encouraged communities from all over Kenya to plant trees in order to restore the Mau Forest where it has been degraded or deforested. GBM partnered with the Green Cross International Sweden and they both participated with peace and reconciliation initiatives within the District of Nakuru County. It was held in Rift Valley Region and two events were hosted in two different countries, Nakuru and Baringo. The finance department additionally produces a variety of annual reports, contributions, and overall audited reports of any and all donated funds towards the GBM. Kenya's first REDD "Training of Trainers" workshop. Delegation to Copenhagen climate change talks: COP15. The GBM also continued through this program to support women with legal services, domestic violence help, and education on natural resources/food security. The GBM, the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI) worked together to bring groups of farmers from 130 different communities together. Copyright © 2021 The Green Belt Movement. The Kenyan government announced its construction and the Green Belt Movement protested against the construction of the 60-foot skyscraper, located in. In 1981, the Green Belt Movement got its first significant funding when the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) provided “seed money” that transformed the effort from a few tree nurseries to a large number with thousands of seedlings. This was due to the large amount of post-election violence taking place in Kenya. After the second tree planting the GBM was able to continue to grow is organization and they also were able to conduct a significant about of research and studies on Kenya and its environmental problems. The GBM and its partners also hosted six workshops to train communities and farmers on environmental problems such as climate change and poor farming practices. The GBM even evaluates current projects that are being managed and done by companies or individuals who are not benefiting or contributing to helping the communities its serving. The GBM launched global campaigns in partnership with several international organizations. The GBM's partnership with the GEF/SGP and the TNC planted a total of 80,126 trees in Kabaru and the Zuti forest. That time is now.” The GBM also purchased a series of GIS monitoring tools which allowed the project to enhance its monitoring program and enforcement of the restored forested areas. Prof. Maathai was appointed Goodwill Ambassador for the Congo Basin Forest Ecosystem, the world’s “second lung” after the Amazon Rainforest. Moreover, the movement has made immense strides in helping local rural communities, restoring and improving natural resources and ecosystems, and educating/ empowering women throughout Kenya. The administration department also maintains key donor, community and international relations. The GBM participated in advocating and educating the public on the new constitution passed into law on August 5, 2010. The total number of trees planted in schools this year was 22,000. This page was last edited on 7 March 2021, at 16:00. The GBM partnered with the Global Environmental Facility/Small Grant Program and the Nature Conservancy. This project is a pilot project that encouraged planting, propagating, and nurturing bamboo plants indigenous to Kenya. She did this through the GBM allowing women in Kenya to be key stakeholder in the organization. During these local tree-planting ceremonies, community members usually turned out in large numbers. Climate Change Training for Rural Community Members. This project continued to facilitate the strengthening of communities relationships, restoring natural resources that have been damaged, and providing education to communities on how to protect natural resources such as watersheds and vegetation surrounding the Chania watershed. The projects that have been completed by the GBM are listed below. Women had been coming to the NCWK complaining of deteriorating environmental conditions in their rural regions. GBM with the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and Woods Hole Research Centre (WHRC) held a Training of Trainers Workshop in August 2010 on Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD). series issues: Série UNESCO femmes dans l'histoire de l'Afrique Imprint: Paris, UNESCO, 2014 Country: France Publ Year: 2014 Collation: 60 p., illus. Original Language: English Other Lang. GBM partnered with AEON Corporation to target water catchment areas with degraded forest lands. The GBM extended the "Mottainai" campaign to Kenya in 2006 to address the issue of waste management, particularly the common use of plastic bags which cannot be recycled or re-used. GBM launched the Climate Change Strategy which involves education, research, security programs, soil erosion controls, and mitigation strategies. The GIS laboratory in 2009, received upgrades to their GIS software from the Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI). Jump up ^ What We Do | The Green Belt Movement, 9. That time is now.” The framing of the Green Belt Movement as a non-threatening environmental conservation effort made an enormous impact on the government and communities during a time that many other forms of activism were seen as threats to the government. GBM’s mission statement is as follows, “We strive for better environmental management, community empowerment, and livelihood improvement using tree-planting as an entry point”. The number of people who have joined the GBM has made the roles of women and males' views toward women change in Kenya. Similarly, the late Wangari Maathai founded the influential Green Belt Movement in 1977. Prior to the Green Belt Movement's founding, specifically during the 1970s, there was a restricted political opportunity structure within Kenya because the government at the time was very politically repressive. They also were able to successfully plant over 400,000 trees in the Mau Forest with the help of many local communities. The GBM continued to grow the "Mottaini" advocacy campaign.