📙 Part 2: Describe a person who helps to protect the environment

This episode's vocabulary

Environmental activist (noun phrase) – someone who works to protect the environment. → Greta Thunberg is a well-known environmental activist who speaks out about climate change.

Deforestation (noun) – cutting down large areas of forest. → Deforestation in the Amazon rainforest is causing serious environmental damage.

Sustainable (adjective) – something that can last without harming the environment. → Solar panels are a form of sustainable energy.

Awareness (noun) – knowing that something exists and understanding it. → We need to raise awareness about plastic pollution in the oceans.

Unwavering (adjective) – strong and not changing. → She showed unwavering support for animal rights.

Soil erosion (noun phrase) – when the top layer of soil is washed or blown away. → Overgrazing can lead to soil erosion and poor crop growth.

NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) (noun) – a private group working on social or environmental issues. → The NGO helps provide clean water to rural villages.

Hands-on (adjective) – being actively involved. → He prefers a hands-on approach and works directly with the volunteers.

Re-wild (verb) – to return land to its natural state. → The project aims to re-wild the area by planting native trees.

Ecosystem (noun) – all the living things in an area and how they interact. → Pollution can harm the delicate balance of an ecosystem.

Fundraising (noun) – collecting money for a project or cause. → They organized a fundraising concert to support wildlife rescue.

Native species (noun phrase) – animals or plants that naturally live in a certain place. → The gray wolf is a native species of North America.

Natural heritage (noun phrase) – natural places and resources passed down through generations. → National parks protect our natural heritage for future generations.

Anthropogenic climate change (noun phrase) – climate change caused by human actions. → Burning fossil fuels is a major driver of anthropogenic climate change.

Conservation (noun) – protecting nature and the environment. → The conservation of endangered animals is important for biodiversity.

Questions and Answers

Rory: Well, I think in Scotland, we're quite fortunate to have someone like James MacLeod, who is an environmental activist dedicated to preserving our country's natural beauty. He spent the last decade tirelessly working to combat deforestation and promote sustainable land management and just raise general awareness about climate change. His commitment seems unwavering. Every weekend, he leads volunteer groups on tree planting expeditions to the Cairn Gorms National Park. That's a large national park in our country, it's in the north. And they restore areas affected by things like illegal logging and soil erosion. And then on weekdays, he collaborates with local councils and NGOs on policies that prioritise things like renewable energy and the protection of endangered wildlife, or what's left of it in this country anyway. Not only does he do hands-on conservation work, he frequently delivers lectures at universities, which must be quite inspiring for young people when it comes to taking action.

I think one of his most remarkable achievements was his successful campaign to re-wild one of the valleys in our country, though through some pretty relentless fundraising, he managed to secure government support, which allowed thousands of native trees to be replanted and natural ecosystems to thrive once again. His work hasn't gone unnoticed by others, thankfully, since he's, I think, received multiple awards for his contributions. There was one in the papers the other day, now that I think about it.

I don't know much about his motivation, but I suppose it probably stems from some sort of deep-seated love of our country's natural heritage, and he's made it his life's mission to reverse the damage done to the environment and educate others on the subject. If we didn't have him around, I think we would be much worse off.

Maria: And do you know many friends who protect the environment?

Rory: I think we all contribute at least a little bit, but not as much as this person.