Green Belt Movement
According to Wangari Maathai, the “Green Belt Movement” was formed to spearhead the “concept of planting trees” needed to “regenerate the land” and conserve the environment (Knopf, 2006). Through the movement, several initiatives were developed, such as establishing tree nurseries for the supply of trees, tree-planting activities, and training people on planting. On the other hand, Aldo Leopold believes that “more conservation education” is the answer to environmental protection, since, “land-use ethics” has long been driven by “economic self-interest” (Leopold 1948). He argues that such a “system of conservation” hinged solely on “economic self-interest” as well as less “ecological concepts” in the educational system is the impending obstacle in conserving the land and change of people’s attitudes. Despite the two authors giving exemplary ideas on environmental conservation, they slightly differ in their approach. Maathai concentrates mostly on programs that reverse the causes of ecological destruction, like planting trees. At the same time, Leopold insists on changing the attitude of the people towards the conservation of land through education by redefining the human role in ecology. In my opinion, Leopold’s arguments about protection have a more significant impact because, unless there is a change in people’s minds, attitudes, interests, and perceptions towards the environment, long term sustainability of conservation programs will be impossible. The question that arises is, how then do we change people’s minds and attitudes and perceptions towards environmental conservation?