Quote from Prof. Maathai´s Nobel lecture
"In this year´s prize, the Norwegian Nobel Committee has placed the critical issue of environment and its linkage to democracy and peace before the world. For their visionary action, I am profoundly grateful. Recognizing that sustainable development, democracy and peace are indivisible is an idea whose time has come. Our work over the past 30 years has always appreciated and engaged these linkages."

About Maathai
Prof. Wangari Maathai is the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. The Norwegian Nobel Committee recognised Prof. Maathai´s contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace. She has persistently struggled for democracy, human rights and environmental conservation.

Wangari Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement in 1977 in order to create livelihood opportunities for poor women and restore the forest environment with little technology and limited financial resources.

The GBM has organised poor Kenyan women who have planted some 30 million trees to preserve local biological diversity and safeguard the supply of ecosystem services.