We’re sad to hear the news that environmentalist and women’s rights advocate, Wangari Maathai died last night in Kenya at the age of 71 after a protracted battle with cancer.

Maathai won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 for promoting conservation, women’s rights and transparent government – the first African woman to get the award.

She was also the first woman in East Africa to complete a doctorate, was elected as an MP in 2002 and served as a minister in the Kenyan government for a time.

Ms Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement – an organization that worked to educate people on the dangers of deforestation and which has planted 20-30 million trees in Africa. In her later years, the organization expanded its focus to include peace, democracy, civil and women’s rights.