The Tree-Growing Movement Restoring Africa’s Vital Landscapes | Wanjira Mathai | TED

Summary

Wanjira Mathai introduces three women, Jane Maigua, Charity Wangui, and Loise Maina, who are leading Exotic EPZ, a company that purchases macadamia nuts from farmers and sells them globally. They partner with 9,000 farmers and are part of the AFR100 Movement, aiming to restore 100 million hectares of land in Africa by 2030. Mathai's mother, Wangari Mathai, founded the Green Belt Movement, which has planted 50 million trees, illustrating the potential of local leadership in restoration. The script emphasizes the importance of nature in reducing poverty, re-greening Africa, and securing livelihoods, while also discussing the economic and environmental benefits of such initiatives.

Takeaways

• 🌳 Meet Jane Maigua, Charity Wangui, and Loise Maina, three women who started Exotic EPZ, a company that purchases, processes, and sells macadamia nuts, partnering with 9,000 farmers across Kenya.
• 🌱 The women of Maragua are using bamboo for entrepreneurship, restoration, and firewood, contributing to the re-greening of Africa.
• 🌍 The AFR100 Movement aims to restore 100 million hectares of land in Africa by 2030, addressing the issue of 60% degraded soils on the continent.
• 🌿 Restoration efforts break the cycle of degradation, providing climate mitigation and protection against the worst impacts of climate change.
• 🏆 Wanjira Mathai, daughter of Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Mathai, emphasizes the importance of local leaders and knowledge in scaling restoration efforts.
• 🌱 The Green Belt Movement, founded by Wangari Mathai, has planted 50 million trees, showcasing the power of community-based restoration.
• 🌿 The Aberdare Forest, once degraded, has been largely restored due to the work of the Green Belt Movement and others, demonstrating the effectiveness of restoration efforts.
• 💹 AFR100-supported initiatives are not only economically sound but also transformative, with locally led and managed projects being 20 times more likely to succeed in the long term.
• 🌱 Investing in restoration initiatives like Tilaa, GreenPort, and ARCOS can empower thousands of restoration champions to restore landscapes and livelihoods.
• 🌏 The re-greening of Africa is not only possible but vital as a life support system, and we can be the generation that leads this restoration.

Q & A

Who are the three women introduced in the script?

The three women introduced in the script are Jane Maigua, Charity Wangui, and Loise Maina.

What is the name of the company these women started and what do they do?

The company they started is called Exotic EPZ. They purchase macadamia nuts from farmers, process them, and sell them around the world.

How many farmers is Exotic EPZ in partnership with?

Exotic EPZ is in partnership with 9,000 farmers across Kenya.

What is the AFR100 Movement and its goal?

The AFR100 Movement is an Africa-wide initiative with the goal to restore 100 million hectares of land by 2030.

What percentage of soils in Africa are degraded according to the script?

60 percent of soils in Africa are degraded.

What is the restoration potential in Africa in terms of land area?

The restoration potential in Africa is 750 million hectares, which is equal to the size of the landmass of Australia.

How does restoration help break the cycle of degradation?

Restoration helps break the cycle of degradation by being about climate mitigation and cushioning communities against the worst impacts of climate change.

What is the role of the World Resources Institute in the AFR100 initiative?

The World Resources Institute is working closely with AFR100 to help raise resources needed for restoration, accelerate the establishment of sound policies, and establish platforms for restoration champions.

Who is Wanjira Mathai and what is her connection to the environment?

Wanjira Mathai is the speaker in the script and has a personal connection to trees. Her mother, Wangari Mathai, founded the Green Belt Movement and won the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize for her environmental work.

What is the Green Belt Movement and what have they achieved?

The Green Belt Movement is a restoration champion in Kenya that has planted 50 million trees through a network of 5,000 women. They organize into groups, generate tree nurseries, collect seeds, and plant on public and private land.

What is the significance of the Aberdare Forest restoration mentioned in the script?

The Aberdare Forest restoration signifies the successful impact of the Green Belt Movement's work. It was once degraded but has been largely restored, showcasing the potential for reversing deforestation and the importance of such initiatives.

Why are initiatives like those supported by AFR100 considered valuable investments?

Initiatives like those supported by AFR100 are considered valuable investments because they are economical, transformative, and make financial sense. They are also more likely to deliver long-term success when locally led and managed.

What is the vision for the African continent regarding green vegetation as expressed in the script?

The vision expressed in the script for the African continent is to re-green the land, which is not only possible but vital as it represents the life support system for the continent.