Kenyan biologist and activist, founder of the Green Belt Movement in 1977. For her, planting trees became a lever for land rights, economic autonomy, and local democracy.

She protected sacred sites such as mugumo fig trees, led emblematic battles for Uhuru Park and Karura Forest, faced arrests and violence, then served in Parliament and government.

The Nobel Peace Prize recognized a vision: to repair ecosystems is to repair societies. Her action shows that freedom takes root in care for place.