A dimension within Preserving Rural Heritage
Exploring the deep connection between forests, their biodiversity, and the traditional knowledge held within communities.
150 voices speak to this
Negative
Overall Community Sentiment
AI-synthesised pieces woven from many community voices on this theme. They may contain errors or interpretation — they're a reflection of the stories, not a record of fact.

We must actively safeguard our local traditions, medicinal plants, and vital forest trees to ensure our heritage and well-being endure.

In Sonbhadra, an elder reflects on the community's evolving traditions, from festive celebrations and unique tribal customs to environmental shifts and new livelihoods, holding onto the hope of preser

Faced with the loss of their natural forest, a community took action to plant a new one specifically for medicinal herbs.

The people of Udulibeda emphasize the vital role of traditional knowledge in cultivating local foods, stewarding the land, and ensuring their community's self-sufficiency for generations to come.
We have been living in this village for approximately 100 years. Our tribe originated in this surrounding area. There have been many changes in the forest; valuable trees, herbs, and animals have all disappeared. If we do not protect it, then within the next 20 years, along with the destruction of the forest, all types of wild animals, medicinal plants, and creepers will disappear. Camps should be organized to teach traditional forest and tribal knowledge from elders to the younger generation, transfer it to the next generation, and preserve it.
— Kumudini Chhanchan · Bhojpur, Sambalpur, Odisha
We have been living in this village for nearly 100 years. Our tribe originated in this surrounding area. The forest has undergone many changes; valuable trees, herbs, and animals have all disappeared. If we do not protect it, then within the next 20 years, the forest will be destroyed, and all types of wild animals, medicinal plants, and vines will vanish. Camps should be organized to teach the younger generation traditional forest and tribal knowledge from the elders, to pass it on to the next generation, and to preserve it.
— Kumudini Chhanchan · Bhojpur, Sambalpur, Odisha
I have been living in this village since my grandfather's time. Our tribe originated in this surrounding area. The forest has changed a lot; valuable trees, herbs, and animals have all disappeared. If we do not protect it, the forest will be destroyed within the next 20 years, and all kinds of wild animals, medicinal trees, and plants will vanish. The younger generation should be taught traditional forest and tribal knowledge from elders and transfer it to the next generation, and camps should be organized to preserve it.
— DASHARATH SINGH · Jamunkira, Sambalpur, Odisha
Due to the cutting of trees and plants in the village, various herbs and food items are becoming extinct. We can protect them.
— Mohan AHARI · Sarera, Udaipur, Rajasthan
Earlier, in our village's forest, we found many abundant herbs. But unfortunately, the roots of these herbs in the forest are being severely destroyed. So, we will try to keep them alive for this. I will go a bit.
— Devisingh Solanki · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh
We have our tribal languages; people used to know them earlier. And after 20 years, so much forest is being destroyed, and in another 20 years, all those animals and birds will disappear.
— RINA BEHERA · Hemagiri, Sundargarh, Odisha
Long live rural discussions. The forests that are present in our lives are depleting. We need to plant more trees, otherwise society will be destroyed.
— Jadumani Nial · Gandhinagar, Rayagada, Odisha
In our village, treatment was done with wild herbs, which is decreasing today. If it is not saved in the future, it will gradually disappear.
— Vijay kanesh · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh
First, in our village, concerning the ancient medicinal herbs, the forest of these herbs was cleared. Now, the herbs do not take root. So, how can we keep them alive? She is asking this.
— Devisingh Solanki · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh
First, in our village, the first, the clock-herb on the elephant and crow. If the forest of these three herbs is cleared, and the herbs do not take root, then how can we keep this alive? She is the one speaking.
— Devisingh Solanki · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh
Our medicinal herbs, vegetables, fruits, and trees are depleting from the forests.
— Kachala Choudhary
We are gradually destroying the traditional seeds of ancient times. We should preserve those seeds. Otherwise, some medicines and plants are leading to their extinction.
— VEER SINGH SIJUI · Gitilāta, Seraikela-Kharsawan, Jharkhand
Herbs, vegetable trees, medicinal plants are becoming extinct from our forests.
— Kachala Choudhary
If we do not make some effort, we will lose our traditional seeds, medicinal herbs, pure environment, air, etc.
— Kachala Choudhary
In the next twenty years, our forest, our culture, customs and traditions, seeds, everything will be destroyed.
— Kachala Choudhary
Long live rural discussions! I believe that while we are discussing tribal traditions and engaging in rural discussions, our forests are slowly being destroyed at a rapid pace.
— Jadumani Nial · Gandhinagar, Rayagada, Odisha
If we do not act now, in the coming 20 years, forests, languages, seeds, songs, and other things will be lost.
— Sunil oraon · Ranchi, Jharkhand
We believe that if we do nothing, songs, forests, languages, and seeds will be lost within the next 20 years.
— AbhiLL Ipsa
The main occupation of our tribe is agriculture and animal husbandry. What changes and harms occur in the forest? What has been lost in 20 years? If anything, songs, forest seeds, etc.
— Laxmanlal
If we do nothing, then within twenty years, along with losing our dance and music, forests are also disappearing, and we might lose all of them.
— S Guruteli · Gandiaguda, Malkangiri, Odisha
If we do nothing, what do you all think will remain in the next 20 years? The forest will be lost. After that, Jien's crops and bag will also be lost.
— Rajesh Mallik · Boudh, Odisha
Forests are disappearing, livelihoods are being destroyed. Forests are also getting depleted, herbs are disappearing. It's not like it used to be.
— Chanda · Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
If we don't act now, forests, languages, seeds, songs, and other things will become extinct from us in the next 20 years.
— Sunil oraon · Ranchi, Jharkhand
If we do not preserve our language now, according to our tribe, then it too will become extinct. Forests will also become extinct, and seeds will become extinct.
— Sunil oraon · Ranchi, Jharkhand
Our ancestors used to live, grow and maintain trees, and collect fruits and roots. Now, with all the trees gone, many conveniences are being lost. Let us all plant trees again.
— Bisendra Naik · Kasipur, Rayagada, Odisha
We should preserve our culture because traditional knowledge and science are associated with it. If we do not preserve it, traditional knowledge and science will disappear. From the forest...
— Sunil oraon · Ranchi, Jharkhand
In this village, the forest has been damaged a bit more than before this time. Herbs cannot be collected, and because of that, we...
— Padmini Bhoi
We have been living in our village for 100 years. Nowadays, there are no animals. The forests are also dwindling, and songs and dances are also disappearing.
— sudhir gamanga · Bada Baridi, Rayagada, Odisha
If we don't do something in the next 20 years, our traditional seeds could disappear.
— Kachala Choudhary
In earlier times, medicinal fruits were found in the forest, but now those things are becoming extinct day by day.
— Amar Lal Dhurwey · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh
In this eternal forest, various valuable trees and medicinal plants are slowly starting to disappear.
— NAGRIK VIKASH SANGATHAN · Kalahandi, Odisha
We have been born and living in this village for almost many years, about 40 years. Our father, grandfathers, and uncles all live here, and gradually various traditions are dying out, and the forests are being destroyed.
— Ulapi Sahu · Patnāgarh, Balangir, Odisha
The forests, animals, birds, and springs that used to be in our forest are slowly disappearing.
— Batakrushna Sahoo
If we don't do anything, then in the next 20 years, all our songs, forests, languages, seeds, trees, animals, and birds will disappear.
— Batakrushna Sahoo
We went and within 20 years the forest trees will be cut very rapidly, due to which we will suffer losses and wild animals will also not be there at this time.
— bachcha lal · Shahganj, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
The old foods that were in our memory are slowly fading away, becoming like mere remnants in a basin. Let's also talk about the forest. If those remain, our culture will also remain. It is interwoven.
— Saunri Murmu
If we do not protect ourselves, then we will end up like forests, medicinal herbs, and vultures, which are currently on the verge of extinction.
— Chanda · Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
It is certainly remembered. Our people are destroying forests. As a result, when they go to the forest, no forest products, including food items, can be found. It would have been better if forests were not destroyed.
— jitendra khila · Lachery, Malkangiri, Odisha
We should preserve our culture so that herbs and forests remain.
— Chanda
Herbs are running out, water and forests are getting depleted.
— Vinita Singh Yadav · Mukasim, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh