From 2011: Wangari Maathai, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Dies at 71

Wangari Maathai, a Kenyan environmentalist and the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize, died in 2011 at the age of 71. She was recognized for her significant contributions to environmental conservation and peace. Maathai's work began with a grassroots initiative where she paid women to plant trees, addressing deforestation and empowering local communities. Her efforts grew into a large-scale movement, the Green Belt Movement, which focused on environmental sustainability, community development, and women's rights. Maathai's work demonstrated the connection between environmental protection and peaceful societies, earning her international recognition.