Women Environmentalists to Celebrate this Women's History Month

By: Shelby Coulton, CDRW Communications Intern

Over the last century, women across the globe have become increasingly prominent in environmental movements. In celebration of March being Women’s History Month, CDRW is highlighting ten inspirational women who have dedicated their lives to environmental advocacy, and whose legacies continue to inspire the next generation of women environmentalists.

Rachel Carson (1907-1964)

Rachel Carson

Rachel Carson. Image courtesy of the National Women’s History Museum.

Rachel Carson is one of the most acclaimed environmentalists and award-winning nature writers in history. Despite being known for her work on pesticides, Rachel began her career as an advocate for the protection of the oceans. In 1941 while working as marine biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Rachel’s first book Under the Sea-Wind was published, which focused on the lives and behaviors of various sea creatures. In 1951, her second book The Sea Around Us, was released, painting a picture of what society knew about the oceans through current scientific understandings. In 1955, The Edge of the Sea was published, displaying the ecology of life in different Atlantic ocean zones- and thus completing her ocean-centered trilogy. In the 1950s, Rachel turned her attention to the land issues as well. She gave special attention to the environmental impacts of synthetic chemicals, which led her to write and publish her most notable work, Silent Spring, in 1952. Silent Spring served as a whistleblower for the potential dangers of man-made chemicals and became a catalyst for national bans on DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane) and other pesticides. Overall, Rachel’s work set the stage for the awakening of environmental movements throughout the U.S.

Winona LaDuke

Winona LaDuke

Winona LaDuke. Image courtesy of the National Women’s History Museum.

Winona LaDuke is a Native American writer and environmental activist. She is known for her advocacy for tribal land claims, preservation, and sustainable development. In 1985, Winona cofounded the Indigenous Women’s Network, where she helped to elevate the visibility of Native American women’s issues. In the years following, Winona’s interests focused on land preservation and claims. She founded the White Earth Land Recovery Project (WELRP) in 1989, whose goal is to aid in buying back reservation lands. Over a decade later in 2000, the project had acquired 1,200 acres to use in hosting enterprises that would bring jobs to Native peoples. The WELRP also helps in efforts of reforestation, to rejuvenate the cultivation of Native crops, and markets Native products. Winona is also a cofounder and the current executive director of Honor the Earth, whose mission is to create awareness for Native environmental issues and support sustainable practices in Native communities. In 2016, Winona participated in the Dakota Access Pipeline resistance movement as a spokesperson for the indigenous community- further elevating the voices of others and exemplifying environmental activism leadership.

Mollie Beattie (1947-1996)

Mollie Beattie

Mollie Beattie. Image courtesy of the Sierra Club.

Mollie Beattie was an conservationist and director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. She is known for being an outstanding advocate for the protection of North American wildlife, endangered species, and biodiversity. She served as Vermont’s commissioner of forests, parks, and recreation from 1985 to 1989, as well as Vermont’s Agency of Natural Resources’ deputy secretary from 1993 to 1996. In 1993, Mollie became the first woman to be appointed as the director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In this position, she helped to implement over 100 conservation plans and establish 15 wildlife refuges. Arguably, Mollie’s biggest success as director was her support in the reintroduction of gray wolves to the Rocky Mountain ecosystem. Molly herself even helped release the first wolf back into Yellowstone National Park as part of the reintroduction project. She is also remembered for her aid in strengthening of the Endangered Species Act. Molly’s legacy lives on through the zealous strides she made for the protection of species’ survival throughout the country.

Wangari Maathai (1940-2011)

Wangari Maathai

Wangari Maathai. Image courtesy of The Goldman Environmental Prize.

Wagari was a Kenyan environmental and social advocate, and the 2004 Nobel Prize Laureate. While attending graduate school in Pittsburgh, Wagari observed environmental organizations in the city advocating for clean air- striking inspiration in her. After receiving her Ph.D. from the University of Nairobi, Wangari founded the Green Belt Movement in 1977. Green Belt Movement’s priorities include reforestation, conservation, and women’s rights. Wangari was also appointed as a Kenyan Parliament member between 2003 and 2005 where she served as the assistant minister for environment and natural resources. In 1991, Wangari’s work was recognized through her Goldman Environmental Prize. Wangari’s impacts also led to her to be the first African woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004. Despite pushback from her own government, she steadfastly dedicated her life to passionately defending a vast array of environmental, social, and political causes.

Berta Isabel Cáceres Flores (1971-2016)

Berta Isabel Cáceres Flores. Image courtesy of The Goldman Environmental Prize.

Berta Isabel Cáceres Flores was an indigenous Lencan and Honduran environmental advocate, activist, and indigenous leader. In 1993, Berta cofounded the Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras (COPINH), whose mission was to support the local indigenous peoples of Honduras. Her activism focused on a wide range of issues ranging from illegal logging, to feminism, to indigenous issues, and much more. One of Berta’s most iconic achievements was her involvement in rallying her indigenous Lencan community to take a stand against dam developers, which eventually led to the canceling of the Agua Zarca Dam project. For her work, Berta was awarded the 2015 Goldman Environmental Prize. Berta lived fearlessly in the face of her country’s socioeconomic instability and successfully advocated for the rights of indigenous people and the preservation of the Honduran ecosystems.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas (1890-1998)

Marjory Stoneman Douglas

Marjory Stoneman Douglas. Image courtesy of the National Women’s Hall of Fame.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas devoted her life as a stalwart of environmental advocacy, focusing sharply on the preservation of the Florida Everglades. Throughout her life she was a journalist, author, women’s suffrage and civil rights activist, and conservationist. Though much of her early life was focused on social movements, she turned her eye to environmental ones later in life. In 1947, her book The Everglades: River of Grass was released which illustrated the Everglades as a place of beauty to be treasured rather than a valueless swamp land. Marjory continued to brazenly challenge agriculture and business developers for the preservation of the natural landscapes and ecosystems of South Florida up until her death at 108. Marjory successfully campaigned for the Everglades to be preserved as a national park and established the conservation organization, Friends of the Everglades, where her legacy still lives on today.

Rosalie Barrow Edge (1877-1962)

Rosalie Barrow Edge with raptor

Rosalie Barrow Edge pictured with a hawk. Image courtesy of Audubon.

Before Rosalie Barrow Edge set her sights on the realm of environmental activism, she spent many of her earlier years as a staunch suffragist fighting for the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment. It was not until her early 50s when Rosalie discovered her passion for bird watching and land preservation that she lent her skills to the protection of wildlife. After learning about the mass slaughtering of many of America’s birds of prey, Rosalie founded the Emergency Conservation Committee (ECC), whose mission was to advocate for proactive protection of wildlife populations while they were stable- not once they were threatened. Her legacy lives on through her creation of Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, which brought an end to the annual culling of eagles and hawks on those lands. Rosalie also actively fought for land conservation by campaigning for the establishment of Olympic National Park and Kings Canyon National Park.

Aurora Castillo (1914-1998)

Aurora Castillo

Aurora Castillo. Image courtesy of The Goldman Environmental Prize.

Aurora Castillo was known for her leadership and strength in standing up to big business and state leaders. In 1984, Aurora discovered that another prison was set to be built in her predominately-Latinx community. Along with other community members, she cofounded and became a leader for The Mothers of East Los Angeles (MELA). Their mission was to fight to protect East Los Angeles from environmental and public health threats. After consistent pressure, the state agreed to relocate the prison’s development to a different location in 1992. Aurora and MELA also advocated against the construction of the Santa Barbara oil pipeline running through their neighborhood, as well as challenging plans for a toxic waste incinerator, and hazardous waste treatment plant. Her successes earned her the Goldman Environmental Prize in 1995. Aurora’s tenacity for environmental and public health advocacy continues to be an inspiration for grassroots activism in disadvantaged communities.

Lois Gibbs

Lois Gibbs

Lois Gibbs. Image courtesy of The Goldman Environmental Prize.

Lois Gibbs is a public health and environmental justice advocate known for her involvement in the infamous Love Canal clean-up. In 1978, Lois lived with her family in Niagara Falls, New York when many members of the neighborhood began developing unusual health issues. Community members began to take noticed and Lois soon learned that her community was located in close proximity to 21,000 tons of buried chemicals. Upon this discovery, Gibbs establish the Love Canal Homeowners Association. With her leadership, the association had the government relocate families and clean-up the site. Gibbs soon became a luminary for public health activism throughout the country. She received outreach from thousands of individuals pleading for her help, leading her to establish the Center for Health, Environment and Justice (CHEJ) where she currently serves as executive director. In 1990 she was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize for her impact. Her efforts towards community activism led to hallmark changes in environmental protocol and accountability, and led to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s establishment of Superfund sites.

Margie Richard

Margie Richard

Margie Richard. Image courtesy of The Goldman Environmental Prize.

Margie Richard and her family called the Old Diamond neighborhood in Norco, Louisiana home for four generations. Historically, this neighborhood is fraught with public health issues, and is nicknamed “Cancer Alley” for its extremely high rates of cancer and other illnesses. After witnessing the dangerous effects that local oil refineries had on her fellow community members, Margie decided to take a stand against the wrongdoings that plagued her community. In 1989, Margie founded Concerned Citizens of Norco to aid in seeking amends for environmental injustices. In the years following, she has led many campaigns in fighting for public health and environmental equity. Margie’s efforts culminated in securing an agreement with Shell Chemical to reduce its toxic emissions by 30 percent, contribute $5 million to community development, and to help finance relocation costs for members of the Old Diamond community. In 2004, Margie Richard was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize Award for her distinguished efforts.