Chapter 6                                    

                                                            6. Bio-Diversity

1. Answer the following questions.

1. How are people's basic needs connected with the environment?

Answer: Wangari Maathai explains that people's basic needs—like clean drinking water, food, energy (mainly firewood), building materials, and fodder for animals—are all directly connected to the environment. These resources come from the land. When the environment is degraded, people cannot access these essentials. So, to meet their basic needs, the environment must be healthy and well-managed. That's why rehabilitating the environment was central to her work from the beginning.

2. Wangari Maathai has described the environment of her childhood in the interview. Is the environment of her childhood different from the environment you live in? If yes, in what ways?

Answer: Yes, the environment Wangari Maathai described from her childhood is likely different from what many of us experience today.

She remembers a pristine, green, and beautiful environment, rich with indigenous forests, biological diversity, clean water, and steady rainfall. It was a time when natural resources were abundant and ecosystems were balanced.

In contrast, many people today live in environments that are:

  • Urbanized, with less greenery and more pollution

  • Affected by climate change, causing irregular rainfall, water shortages, or extreme weather

  • Experiencing deforestation and loss of biodiversity

  • Facing challenges like air and water pollution, soil degradation, and overuse of natural resources

3. According to Maathai, how are women responsible for the protection of the environment?

Answer: Wangari Maathai emphasizes that women are deeply connected to the environment because they are the ones who directly rely on natural resources for their daily needs, such as firewood, building materials, and food. When the environment is degraded, it directly affects their livelihoods.

She also points out that women are the primary caregivers and have the responsibility for growing food and gathering resources in rural areas. Because of this, they are in a unique position to protect the environment. Maathai's Green Belt Movement encouraged women to take active roles in restoring forests by planting trees.

Through this initiative, women gained confidence and empowerment, becoming "Foresters without Diplomas," and took ownership of their environment. Maathai believed that women have the responsibility not just for using natural resources but also for managing and protecting them to ensure future generations can benefit.

4. What is the specific message of Wangari Maathai?

Answer: Wangari Maathai's specific message revolves around the interconnection between peace, good governance, and environmental sustainability. She advocates for:

  1. Restoring and protecting the environment: Maathai emphasizes that a healthy environment is crucial for the well-being of people, especially in rural areas where natural resources are directly linked to their survival.

  2. Empowerment through action: She encourages individuals, particularly women, to take responsibility for their environment. Her Green Belt Movement is a prime example of how grassroots efforts, like planting trees, can lead to meaningful change.

  3. Peace and resource management: Maathai highlights that many conflicts arise due to the degradation of natural resources and inequitable distribution. She stresses that good management of natural resources, respect for human rights, and democratic governance are essential for peace.

  4. Sustainable development: She uses the metaphor of the three-legged stool, with peace, good governance, and resource management as the legs that support development. Without these, sustainable development is not possible.

5. List the transformations that Wangari Maathai was able to bring about over the years. Which one of them is the biggest in your opinion?

Answer: Wangari Maathai brought about several transformations over the years, both environmental and social. Some of the key ones include:

  1. Environmental transformation:

    • Restoration of land: She helped rehabilitate degraded land by planting trees, which brought back greenery, reduced dust, and restored biological diversity.

    • Revival of water sources: The trees helped absorb rainwater and replenish underground water reserves, even leading to the return of dry springs.

    • Improvement in local ecosystems: Birds, animals, and plants began to return to areas that were once barren.

  2. Empowerment of women:

    • Maathai inspired illiterate women to become competent foresters by teaching them simple methods to plant and care for trees.

    • She helped women gain confidence and self-reliance by allowing them to grow trees for firewood, building materials, and income. This also gave them a sense of dignity and pride in their work.

  3. Civic and environmental education:

    • She provided women with civic education, teaching them about governance and their role in protecting the environment, helping them understand that environmental restoration was their responsibility, not the government's.

  4. Social transformation:

    • Women and communities began to fight for their rights—to protect their land and forests, and to demand accountability from corrupt leaders.

    • She instilled a sense of empowerment among women, encouraging them to take ownership of their environment and to act as guardians of their land.

6. Maathai said, "When we plant a tree we plant hope." What does she mean by this?

Answer: When Wangari Maathai says, "When we plant a tree we plant hope," she means that planting a tree symbolizes the commitment to a better future. A tree, especially in the context of her Green Belt Movement, represents:

  1. Sustainability: Trees grow over time, providing long-term benefits like food, firewood, and improved ecosystems. By planting a tree, we are investing in the well-being of future generations and ensuring that the environment remains capable of supporting life.

  2. Positive Change: Planting a tree is an act of restoration and renewal, showing that even in the face of environmental degradation, we can take action to reverse damage and make a positive impact.

  3. Hope for a better future: Trees can live for many years, outlasting individuals, symbolizing the lasting legacy of our actions. By planting a tree, we are planting something that will continue to thrive and benefit others long after we're gone, creating hope for future generations.

II. Pick out the correct choice in each of the following:

1. We have allowed some people, especially those in power. expense of the majority. at the

The underlined phrase means:

a) with a loss or damage to the majority

b) by spending money on the majority

Answer: a) with a loss or damage to the majority.

The phrase implies that those in power have gained resources or benefits, but it has come at the expense of the majority, meaning that the majority has suffered or lost out as a result.

2. What was the implication of the growth of exotic trees, such as the pines and the eucalyptus for the environment?

a) It increases timber business.

b) Forests were not able to contain water.

Answer: b) Forests were not able to contain water.

The growth of exotic trees like pines and eucalyptus led to the destruction of local biological diversity. These trees didn't allow the forests to function properly as water reservoirs, causing water to run downstream rather than being absorbed into the ground. This led to changes in rainfall patterns and the drying up of rivers and springs.

3. When women started working with Maathai, they learnt

a) to become very competent foresters.

b) to grow and transplant seedlings.

Answer: a) to become very competent foresters.

As Wangari Maathai worked with the women, they gained confidence and skills in planting and caring for trees. They eventually became very competent at tree planting and forest management, even without formal diplomas, which led Maathai to refer to them as "Foresters without Diplomas."

4. Maathai's efforts will inspire the people

a) to stop wasting their resources.

b) to use their resources miserly.

Answer: a) to stop wasting their resources.

Maathai's efforts aimed to inspire people to use their resources responsibly and to avoid squandering them, especially in conflict or unsustainable practices. She believed that by protecting and managing natural resources wisely, people could create a more peaceful and sustainable future.