Elizabeth Wathuti: Championing Environmental Conservation Through Women and Girls

Elizabeth Wathuti, affectionately known as Liz Mazingira, is a passionate environmentalist from Kenya and one of the youngest global voices advocating for environmental sustainability. Through her powerful message, "If we lose the environment, we lose everything that makes life possible. It’s time to put the planet and people before profits," she affirms the urgent need to prioritize ecological balance over short-term gains.

As the founder of the Green Generation Initiative, Elizabeth has dedicated her life to empowering communities, particularly women and girls, to be at the forefront of environmental conservation. Her initiative focuses on nurturing a culture of environmental stewardship, starting with young people. By planting over 30,000 trees and creating eco-awareness programs in schools, she has ignited a movement that emphasizes the interconnectedness of humanity and the natural world.

Elizabeth recognizes the pivotal role women and girls play in sustaining ecosystems. In many rural Kenyan communities, women are the custodians of natural resources, tasked with collecting water, firewood, and food for their families. However, climate change and environmental degradation disproportionately affect them, making their lives even more challenging.

To address this, Elizabeth collaborates with women and girls to equip them with knowledge and tools to adapt to and mitigate climate change. Her programs promote sustainable farming practices, water conservation methods, and tree planting as strategies to restore degraded landscapes.

Elizabeth's focus on women stems from her belief in their transformative potential. By involving women in conservation, she not only strengthens environmental outcomes but also empowers them economically and socially. For instance, she has supported women-led community nurseries, where women grow seedlings for reforestation projects, creating both ecological and financial benefits.


Elizabeth is deeply committed to educating the next generation about environmental conservation. Through her Green Generation Initiative, she runs “Adopt a Tree” campaigns in schools, encouraging children, especially girls, to take responsibility for nurturing a tree. This act symbolizes their role as caregivers of the planet and instills a lifelong appreciation for nature.

Her work is not just about planting trees; it is about planting ideas. By fostering a sense of environmental responsibility in girls, Elizabeth creates ripple effects. Many of these young women go on to become leaders and advocates for sustainability in their communities, proving that small actions can lead to significant change.

Elizabeth's message resounds far beyond Kenya. As a speaker at global forums like the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), she has called out world leaders for prioritizing profits over the planet. Her bold assertion, "If we lose the environment, we lose everything that makes life possible", reminds decision-makers of their moral obligation to protect the planet for future generations.


Elizabeth's advocacy for climate justice is deeply rooted in her belief that addressing climate change is inseparable from addressing gender equality and social equity. She has consistently emphasized the importance of amplifying the voices of women and girls in climate discussions, as they are often the most affected yet the least represented.

Elizabeth Wathuti, or Liz Mazingira, is an example of how environmental conservation, when approached with a gendered perspective, can drive transformative change. Her work with women and girls not only restores ecosystems but also uplifts communities. Her powerful words remind us of what is at stake: the very foundation of life on Earth.

By putting the planet and people before profits, Elizabeth inspires us to rethink our priorities and act with urgency. Her work proves that when women and girls lead the charge in environmental conservation, they bring about solutions that are inclusive, innovative, and impactful.

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