Mary Njenga

Kenyan environmental scientist promoting sustainable agriculture and forest conservation through community-based initiatives.

Mary Njenga, a Kenyan agroforestry expert born in 1972, has revolutionized rural livelihoods through eco-friendly farming practices. Her work with the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) since 2003 focuses on integrating trees into farmland to combat deforestation and poverty. She pioneered the Climate-Smart Villages initiative, which trains farmers in techniques like intercropping and mulching, boosting crop yields by up to 40% while reducing soil erosion. Njenga’s research in the Eastern African forests revealed that agroforestry systems sequester more carbon than traditional methods, earning her a 2018 Green Hero Award. Her Community Seed Banks project has preserved over 200 indigenous crop varieties, ensuring food security during climate shocks. A vocal advocate for women in STEM, she co-authored the Gender and Agroforestry handbook (2015), which highlights women’s roles in sustainable land management. Njenga’s methods have been replicated across 15 African countries, impacting 500,000+ households. Her documentary on Kenya’s Green Belt Movement legacy connects her work to global environmental movements. She currently advises the Kenyan government on policies to achieve UN SDG 13 (Climate Action) and 15 (Life on Land).