Ecology and Development – Summary, Explanation and Exercise Solutions
Ecology and Development Summary | NEB Class 11 English
The text "Ecology and Development" is based on the inspiring work of Wangari Maathai, the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize. It details the origins and impact of The Green Belt Movement in Kenya. Maathai observed that rural women were suffering from a lack of firewood, clean water, and nutritious food due to massive deforestation and soil erosion.
Instead of waiting for government intervention, Maathai empowered these women to take matters into their own hands by planting trees. The movement faced challenges from professional foresters who overcomplicated the process and from a political regime that viewed independent women as "subversive." However, the movement succeeded because it transformed ordinary women into "Foresters without Diplomas."
It proved that environmental conservation is deeply linked to democracy, human rights, and women's empowerment. Today, the movement serves as a global model for how community-led ecology can drive sustainable development.
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Ways with Words
A. Match the words with their meanings:
Constituency: An electoral district or a body of voters.
Pursue: To follow in an effort to overtake, capture, or accomplish a goal.
Infiltrate: To enter or gain access to an organization or place secretly and gradually.
Nomadic: Living the life of roaming from place to place rather than staying in one settlement.
Anatomy: The art of studying the different parts of any organized body or structure.
Subversive: Seeking or intended to overthrow or undermine an established system or institution.
C. Prefixes: Make two new words for each prefix and use them in original sentences:
mal-
Malfunction: The pilot had to land the plane early due to a sudden engine malfunction.
Malnutrition: Many children in war-torn regions suffer from severe malnutrition due to food shortages.
mis-
Misunderstand: Please do not misunderstand my silence for a lack of interest in your project.
Misplace: I always seem to misplace my car keys right when I am in a hurry to leave.
un-
Unpredictable: The weather in the mountains is notoriously unpredictable, even in the summer.
Unfold: We sat on the porch and watched the beautiful sunset unfold across the horizon.
in-
Injustice: The lawyer vowed to fight against the social injustice faced by the marginalized community.
Insignificant: Compared to the vastness of the ocean, our small boat felt completely insignificant.
pre-
Precaution: Wearing a helmet is a necessary precaution for anyone riding a bicycle on busy roads.
Preview: The cinema offered a short preview of the upcoming blockbuster movie.
il-
Illegible: The doctor's handwriting was so messy that the prescription was almost illegible.
Illegal: It is strictly illegal to hunt endangered species within the national park boundaries.
dis-
Disconnect: You should disconnect the power supply before attempting to repair the old television.
Disapprove: My parents strongly disapprove of my plan to quit my job and travel the world.
im-
Impatient: The crowd grew impatient as the start of the concert was delayed by an hour.
Imperfect: We must accept that our work will always be imperfect, but we can still strive for excellence.
re-
Reunite: After ten years of living apart, the siblings were finally able to reunite in their hometown.
Recharge: I need to find a quiet place to recharge my energy after a long week of work.
ir-
Irrelevant: The witness was told to stop sharing irrelevant details that had nothing to do with the crime.
Irresponsible: It is highly irresponsible to leave a campfire burning without supervision.
de-
Decentralize: The company decided to decentralize its operations to improve efficiency in local branches.
Devalue: Constant inflation can quickly devalue a nation's currency, making imports more expensive.
non-
Nonsense: Everything he said during the meeting was complete nonsense and lacked any logic.
Nonprofit: She dedicated her life to working for a nonprofit organization that helps stray animals.
Comprehension
Answer these questions:
a. What did Maathai decide to do for the community?
Maathai decided to take direct action to help her community by creating sustainable jobs, particularly for women, centered around environmental conservation and the planting of trees to restore the degraded landscape.
b. Mention the problems faced by women in Kenya.
The women in rural Kenya faced several severe challenges, including widespread malnutrition, a lack of adequate food supplies, scarcity of clean water, rising unemployment, and the loss of fertile land due to massive soil erosion.
c. Why did the speaker go to the women to talk about planting trees?
Maathai approached the women because they were the ones most directly impacted by environmental degradation. They were responsible for gathering firewood and water, and they were the most concerned about the health and future of their children in a changing climate.
d. What is the most important achievement of the movement described in the text?
The most significant achievement was the empowerment and independence of the women. They moved beyond just planting trees to acquiring technical knowledge, becoming self-reliant, and transforming into leaders who could teach and inspire others in their communities.
e. Why were the foresters’ ways not helpful to the women for planting trees?
The professional foresters used overly complicated methods that required formal training and expensive equipment. Their "diploma-based" approach made a simple task like searching for seeds and planting them seem impossible for ordinary, uneducated women to achieve.
f. When and how did she start The Green Belt Movement?
She officially launched The Green Belt Movement on World Environment Day. She began by organizing a small ceremony where she planted the first seven trees in a local park, which served as a symbolic start to the nationwide campaign.
g. Why do the donors want to provide money to the women?
Donors were eager to fund the movement because it produced tangible, satisfactory results. The women proved that they were highly efficient and that the money was being used directly to transform the environment and improve local livelihoods.
h. What happened when the speaker criticized the political leadership?
When Maathai criticized the political leaders for their corruption and environmental neglect, she was portrayed as a "subversive" element. The government attempted to silence her by labeling her a threat to national security and traditional values.
i. Mention the agencies that supported her movement.
The Green Belt Movement received support from several international agencies, including the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), the Danish Voluntary Fund, the Norwegian Agency for International Development (NORAD), and the African Development Foundation.
Critical Thinking
a. Do you think that the title “Foresters without Diplomas” is suitable to the essay? How?
Yes, I believe the title "Foresters without Diplomas" is perfectly suitable and highly effective. In the beginning, professional foresters with degrees failed to help the community because they viewed tree planting as a complex science that only experts could understand. They looked down on the rural women who lacked formal education.
However, Wangari Maathai proved that these women possessed "common sense" and a deep, practical understanding of nature. They learned how to identify seeds, germinate them, and care for seedlings without needing a university degree. By successfully reforesting vast areas of Kenya, these women became true "foresters" through their actions rather than their credentials. The title highlights the theme that practical wisdom and community dedication are often more powerful than formal academic qualifications.
b. Can a person make a difference in a society? Discuss with an example.
It is often thought that one individual is too small to change the world, but history proves the opposite. A single person with a clear vision and enough courage can spark a movement that changes the lives of millions. While big problems like climate change or poverty seem impossible, they are often solved when one person decides to do something unconventional.
For example, in Nepal, Anuradha Koirala made an extraordinary difference through her organization, Maiti Nepal. She started small, driven by the goal of protecting women and girls from trafficking. Her individual determination eventually led to a massive social shift, saving thousands of lives and bringing international attention to the issue. Like Wangari Maathai, Koirala shows that a person doesn't need to be part of a government to create lasting change; they just need the will to act.
c. Write an essay on 'The Community Forest in Nepal'. Describe how these community forests have contributed to maintain ecology in our environment.
Community forests are one of the most successful environmental conservation programs in Nepal. Under this system, local people are given the responsibility to protect, manage, and use nearby forest resources. The government hands over certain forest areas to local communities, known as Community Forest User Groups (CFUGs), who manage them for the benefit of the people and the environment.
Community forestry began in Nepal to solve the problem of rapid deforestation and environmental degradation. In the past, forests were heavily exploited for firewood, timber, and grazing. As a result, forest areas were shrinking and ecological balance was being disturbed. The community forestry program helped solve this problem by involving local people directly in forest management.
Community forests have greatly contributed to maintaining ecological balance. First, they help in conserving biodiversity by protecting plants, animals, and other natural resources. Second, forests prevent soil erosion and landslides, especially in the hilly regions of Nepal. They also help in maintaining water sources and improving soil fertility. In addition, forests absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, which helps reduce air pollution and control climate change.
Apart from environmental benefits, community forests also support local livelihoods. People obtain firewood, fodder, timber, herbs, and other forest products in a sustainable way. Many communities also earn income by selling forest products and investing the money in local development activities such as schools, roads, and drinking water projects.
In conclusion, community forests play a vital role in protecting Nepal’s environment and improving the lives of rural people. By encouraging community participation and sustainable resource management, Nepal has set an excellent example of environmental conservation for the world.
Grammar: Transitive, Intransitive, and Linking Verbs
Identify the verb and its type for each sentence:
a. His father looks handsome. (Linking Verb - connects subject to an adjective)b. Bhawana drinks milk every day. (Transitive Verb - "milk" is the direct object)
c. He became a watchman. (Linking Verb - connects subject to a noun)
d. This bread smells good. (Linking Verb - describes the subject)
e. The dog barked loudly. (Intransitive Verb - has no direct object)
f. He chased the dog. (Transitive Verb - "the dog" is the direct object)
g. My sister swims fast. (Intransitive Verb - "fast" is an adverb, not an object)
h. He painted a picture. (Transitive Verb - "a picture" is the direct object)
i. Radhika always asks questions. (Transitive Verb - "questions" is the direct object)
j. Anjana has a long hair. (Linking Verb - in this context, shows a state/quality)
k. Hungry lion roars. (Intransitive Verb - the action is complete without an object)
l. He tried again and again. (Intransitive Verb - "again" is an adverb)
m. The weather is hot. (Linking Verb - the most common linking verb)
n. Owls hide in the daytime. (Intransitive Verb - "in the daytime" is a prepositional phrase)
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