My inspiration comes from my childhood experiences and observations of nature in rural Kenya. As I was growing up, I witnessed forests being cleared and replaced by commercial plantations, which destroyed local bio-diversity and the capacity of the forests to conserve water. In 1977, when we started the Green Belt movement, I was partly responding to the needs identified by rural women, namely lack of firewood, clean drinking water, balanced diets, shelter and income. Throughout Africa, women are the primary caretakers, holding significant responsibility for tilling the land and feeding their families. As a result, they are often the first to become aware of environmental damage as resources become scarce and they are incapable of sustaining their families.

The women we worked with recounted that, unlike in the past, they were unable to meet their basic needs. This was due to the degradation of their immediate environment as well as the introduction of commercial farming, which replaced the growing of household food crops. But international trade controlled the price of the exports from these small-scale farmers, and a reasonable and just income could not be guaranteed. I came to understand that when the environment is destroyed, plundered or mismanaged, we undermine the quality of our life and that of future generations.

Tree planting became a natural choice to address some of the initial basic needs identified by women. Also, tree planting is simple, attainable and guarantees quick, successful results within a reasonable amount of time. This sustains

interest and commitment. Together, we have planted over 30 million trees that provide fuel, food, shelter, and income to support our children's education and household needs. The activity also creates employment and improves soil and watersheds.

Initially, the work was difficult because they were unaware that a degraded environment leads to a scramble for scarce resources and may culminate in poverty and even conflict. They were also unaware of the injustices of international economic arrangements. Later, they became aware of the widespread destruction of the ecosystems, especially through deforestation, climatic instability and contamination of the soil and waters all contributed to excruciating poverty and subsequent riots.