My question: Why Maathai only encourage poor women? How about the poor males?
Wangari Maathai chose to involve women in establishing tree-nurseries and tree planting initiatives since a majority of them were “poor and illiterate” with no formal jobs; hence it employed them (Knopf, 2006, p.135). Moreover, she observed that most conservation programs started in different parts of Kenya were failing due to lack of “local people who are committed to the process and were willing to work with their communities” (p.132). Therefore, women who were mostly farmers embraced her initiatives more than men. For instance, after acquiring a donkey to help women fetch water in Isinya to water trees, the local community members mostly men chose to use the donkey for other tasks since their culture regarded water-fetching as a role of women.
Big question: What would you do to preserve the nature?
In my opinion, I will use both Maathai and Leopold’s approaches. Based on Leopold’s approach, I will carry out conservation sensitization through education in schools as well as creating public awareness to various communities on the importance of preserving natural resources (Leopold, 1948). Also, I will actively involve the community in carrying out various environmental conservation measures as Maathai did i.e., tree-planting, afforestation, protection of parks and other ecological resources, and embracing sustainable agricultural practices. Combining both these approaches will ensure the land is regenerated, the people are educated, people’s attitudes are changed and long term sustainability of conservation practices is guaranteed.
References
Knopf, A. A. (2006).” Wangari Muta Maathai. Unbowed: A Memoir (pp. 118-139). New York
Leopold, A. (2014). The Land Ethic. In The Ecological design and Planning Reader (pp. 108-121). Island Press, Washington, Dc, 2014. Retrieved on 10th March, 2020 from https://tipiglen.co.uk/landethic.html