Hirut Sori

Ethiopian environmental leader combating desertification through large-scale reforestation

Hirut Sori is a visionary environmentalist from Ethiopia who has pioneered innovative approaches to combat desertification and climate change in the Horn of Africa region since 2021. As founder of the Green Horizons Africa initiative, she organized over 500 community-led tree planting campaigns across Ethiopia's Afar and Somali regions, mobilizing tens of thousands of volunteers to plant more than 10 million trees by 2024. Her work directly addresses the UN's Sustainable Development Goal 15 on Life on Land, creating green corridors that stabilize soil, restore degraded landscapes, and provide sustainable livelihoods through agroforestry programs. Sori's approach integrates traditional knowledge with modern scientific methods, training local communities in drought-resistant tree species selection and water conservation techniques. Her 2023 TEDx talk Trees as Climate Shields has been viewed over 2 million times, inspiring similar initiatives in Kenya and Sudan. Collaborations with organizations like UNCCD have expanded her impact through international funding and policy advocacy.

Innovatively, she developed the 'Women's Tree Banking' system where female farmers earn microloans by pledging tree survival rates, creating financial incentives while ensuring long-term ecological sustainability. Satellite data from NASA Earth Observatory shows a 15% increase in vegetation cover in project areas between 2021-2024. Sori's work was recognized with the 2023 Global Environmental Leadership Award from Earth Day Network, positioning her among Africa's most influential climate activists. Her recent focus on carbon sequestration partnerships with European companies demonstrates how local solutions can contribute to global climate goals while empowering rural communities.