Wanjira Matai is a resonate voice of the ‘New Africa.’ As the daughter of Wangaari Maathai, the revered founder of the Green Belt Movement in Kenya, Wanjira has taken on the work of vast tree plantings against deforestation and other environmental and community restoration projects that demonstrate some of the largest and most successful ecological and progressive social models in Africa. She approached the work as an exemplary woman leader in a movement that has been characterized by women’s leadership.

This speech was given at the 2004 Bioneers National Conference.