Esther Makori

Kenyan environmentalist who pioneered community-led reforestation in degraded urban areas

Esther Makori (b. 1975) is a visionary environmentalist from Nairobi who transformed Kenya's urban landscapes through grassroots reforestation. Founder of the Green Africa Foundation, she developed the 'Urban Forest' model that combines tree planting with youth employment and food security programs. Key achievements include:

• Planted over 2 million trees in Nairobi's slums and peri-urban areas
• Created 15,000+ jobs for youth through her Green Jobs initiative
• Developed drought-resistant tree varieties for arid regions

Her innovative approach integrates climate action with social development, earning recognition from the UN Environment Programme (2016). The documentary 《Roots of Resilience》 highlights her work. She advises the Kenyan government's Green City Initiative and collaborates with organizations like Trees for Africa. Learn more at official site.