With the sad news of Wangari Maathai's death on Sunday night (25 September), we celebrate the life and philosophy of an extraordinary woman via a series of video clips, below.

Maathai, a veteran Kenyan activist, wielded global influence with her vision of economic and social progression in Africa running parallel to environmental protection.

Her ground-breaking Green Belt Movement was founded in 1977 and planted tens of millions of trees across Africa while also empowering women living there with new skills and employment opportunities.

Her work quickly expanded to include tackling corrupt politicians and warring factions, both in her native Kenya and beyond.

Her fearless campaigns to stop politicians from seizing land in Kenya made her a national hero, while her Green Belt philosophy became particularly pertinent in areas such as the Congo Basin, where conflicts were closely connected with scarce natural resources.

In 2004, Maathai became the first African woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for "unique forms of action [that] have contributed to drawing attention to political oppression – nationally and internationally."

In tribute to Maathai's impressive legacy, take a look at these videos of some of her most important messages at conferences and conventions around the world..

Wangari Maathai: her life and career highlights