Forests & Livelihoods

The forest is depleting

— Vinita Singh Yadav · Dharura, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh

In today's time, many changes are happening in the forests. Trees are being cut, medicinal plants are disappearing, animals are becoming extinct, and migration is happening very rapidly.

— Sunil oraon · Ranchi, Jharkhand

Large trees have been cut down, due to which it is becoming difficult to find forest vegetables and herbs.

— Kachala Choudhary

Forest land has been lost.

— अमर जीत · Kon, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh

Forest land has been lost.

— अमर जीत · Kon, 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

Oh, there is also a distinct language of our Gonda society. And no one speaks that language anymore, slowly it has also disappeared. And now what we used to get from the forest, we are not getting it from the forest anymore, all the forests are cut down.

— RINA BEHERA · Hemagiri, Sundargarh, Odisha

Change or damage is happening, all the forest trees and creepers are getting destroyed, animals and birds have disappeared.

— Niranjan Bisi · Boudh, Odisha

Our medicinal herbs, vegetables, fruits, and trees are depleting from the forests.

— Kachala Choudhary

We have been living in this area for many years. What we see in our region is that the forest cover has also decreased. There are no animals now.

— sudhir gamanga · Gadiakhala, Ketalugurha, Rayagada

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

In the forest, all the ancient trees are disappearing. And all the medicinal trees are also disappearing.

— Anupama Mahanand

Food, forests, and agricultural systems are all slowly disappearing. Among these three, what we miss the most are the forests. The forests that were there before will not be there anymore. The absence of which...

— Sudarsan Dalei · Gandhinagar, Rayagada, Odisha

Yes, damage has definitely occurred. Previously, people used to obtain two traditional food items by cutting trees from the forest. Now, these are not available. Furthermore, there has been extensive damage to medicinal plants, and those are also not available.

— gobardhan pangi

What our ancestors used to obtain, now 90% of the forest has been destroyed. With the destruction of forests, the hills have also been destroyed. Whatever materials we used to find, especially food items, are no longer available.

— jitendra khila · Gandhinagar, Rayagada, Odisha

Currently, we are seeing that trees, animals, and herbs in the forest are being destroyed.

— MUKTA THAKUR · Kalahandi, Odisha

Even many large trees in the forest have been depleted, and there are no medicinal herbs left. Animals and birds in the forest are also disappearing. Therefore, we absolutely need the forest.

— Mukunda Majhi · Udulibeda, Malkangiri, Odisha

Herbs, vegetable trees, medicinal plants are becoming extinct from our forests.

— Kachala Choudhary

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

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

Fruit trees and vegetable plants have disappeared from our forests.

— Kachala Choudhary

In ancient times, people used to depend on the forest for their livelihood. But now, since the forest has become depleted, they are no longer able to get tubers, leaves, fruits, and roots from the forest. Therefore, the forest in greater quantity...

— SUBASH SABHASUNDAR · Gajapati, Odisha

Nowadays, due to the damage to all forests, animals, birds, and insects are all disappearing.

— Gourang Adhikari · Udulibeda, Malkangiri, Odisha

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

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

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 herbs, vegetables, fruits, and trees have been depleted from the forest.

— Kachala Choudhary

In today's time, we have seen many significant changes in the forest, such as excessive deforestation, climate change, changing traditions, and people not following customs and rituals.

— Sunil oraon · Ranchi, Jharkhand

Earlier, a lot of edible items were found in the forests that could be eaten and added to midday meals, but now, due to damage to the forests, many things have become extinct.

— Kekti Tekam · Dindori, Madhya Pradesh

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

In this eternal forest, various valuable trees and medicinal plants are slowly starting to disappear.

— NAGRIK VIKASH SANGATHAN · Kalahandi, Odisha

Lots of trees are being cut down in the name of development and our forests are disappearing. If we do not spread awareness of sustainable development, then we will lose our forests and we will also lose our lungs.

— sophia akoijam · Imphal, Imphal West, Manipur

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

Our grandparents lived in this village for over 50 years. What kind of changes are happening in this village? The forest is slowly being destroyed.

— Ulapi Sahu · Patnāgarh, Balangir, Odisha