Chapter 4
TAKING
ACTION
I
n the early 1970s, Maathai searched for a solution to
Kenya’s deforestation. She began in
rural
areas that were
suffering the most from missing forests. She spoke with
women living in small villages like Ihithe, where Maathai was
Many
people in
Kenya rely on
charcoal to cook
and heat their homes.
Most of the charcoal
is made from
trees.
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