Fatima Haji

A Somali environmentalist leading a grassroots movement to combat desertification through community-driven reforestation.

Fatima Haji is the founder of Green Legacy Somalia, an organization dedicated to reversing environmental degradation in the Horn of Africa. Since 2021, Haji's initiative has mobilized over 500,000 volunteers to plant 2 million trees annually in regions like Somaliland and Puntland. Her approach integrates traditional ecological knowledge with modern agroforestry techniques, creating drought-resistant landscapes. Notably, Haji pioneered 'women-led tree nurseries,' empowering rural female entrepreneurs to sustainably manage local resources. In 2024, her efforts were recognized by the UN Environment Programme, which highlighted Somalia's first measurable reduction in desertification in decades. Haji's work also inspired similar projects in Kenya and Ethiopia, demonstrating cross-border environmental collaboration. Learn more through the documentary "Roots of Resilience" (2023).