The Wangari Maathai Institute for Peace and Environmental Studies marked the 2026 Wangari Maathai Day and Africa Environment Day with a tree growing activity on 3rd March that brought together SLUSE students from WMI and the University of Copenhagen, members of the Gatugi community, and the environmental group Hearts of Green. The activity focused on a simple idea: planting trees matters, but making sure they grow matters even more.
The partnership between WMI and the Gatugi community has developed steadily over the years. Since 2018, the Institute and local residents have worked together to plant and care for trees in commemoration of Wangari Maathai Day. What started as an annual activity has grown into a continuing effort, with each year adding more trees and strengthening the partnership with the community.
Students from the Sustainable Land Use and Natural Resource Management programme (SLUSE) took part in the activity alongside community members. For many of them, the day was a reminder that environmental work does not end after a seedling goes into the ground. As they put it, “It is not about tree planting; it is about tree growing. If you plant a tree, adopt it.”
During the activity, Moses Muya, Executive Director of Hearts of Green, spoke about how technology is helping communities keep track of the trees they plant. He introduced participants to the Tree Survival and Nurturing Application (TSNAP), a digital tool used to monitor tree survival under the LANSRET restoration initiative. The application allows those involved to follow the growth of the trees and ensure they receive continued care.
The Director of WMI, Thuita Thenya, reminded participants that the work of Wangari Maathai was never only about trees. Her efforts connected environmental protection with human rights, peace, and the power of communities working together.
“When you plant a tree, you plant a seed of peace that future generations will enjoy,” he said.
The activity ended with a shared understanding among students, community members, and partners: planting a tree is only the first step. What matters most is the care that follows — watering it, protecting it, and making sure it grows.