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Richard Kakunga Wambua - Kenyan, Africa

2020 Winner | Diplomat | Kenyan

GreenPap® by MeForest Initiative™ is a mobile and web-based platform seeking to establish a paradigm shift from sporadic tree planting to more purpose-driven tree growing, recommending the best tree species to plant as per the climatic conditions and soil composition of an area. This recommendation includes the economic value of the trees at hand, thus not only impacting communities socio-economically but also ensuring they become more climate-resilient. GreenPap® enables users to virtually plant trees via our Green Ambassadors, as well as analyzing and visualizing data to monitor tree survival rates across the country, through the use of drones and satellite imagery. The platform has been acclaimed by the Kenyan Ministry of Environment and Forestry for its contribution towards attainment of over 10% tree cover by 2022 as per Article 69 (1)(b) of the Kenyan Constitution. Grants received from Microsoft & SkyWatch have largely propelled transition into machine learning and AI, including access to satellite data-sets to better monitor tree survival.

When he’s not being a Tree-E-O(CEO) to MeForest Initiative™ or covered in dirt planting trees across the country, you can always find Richard Kakunga Wambua volunteering his skills in the community or advocating for the inclusion of youth in contexts which serve to empower them in both the domestic and international affairs arena(s). A Pan-African, feminist and motivational-speaker, Richard speaks fluent Kikamba, Swahili and English as well as basic German and basic Spanish whilst being keen on adding Russian and Arabic onto the list. Like the late Nobel Laureate Dr. Wangari Maathai, he believes in being the hummingbird.

Disclaimer: NOTE: This content was shared online for the 2019 cycle of the Young Champions of the Earth programme and has not been updated. This listing does not constitute any endorsement by nor status with the UN Environment Programme.

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