A dimension within Habitat Destruction
This cluster examines how deforestation and forest changes affect rural communities, their culture, and biodiversity.
150 voices speak to this
Neutral
Overall Community Sentiment
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
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
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 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 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
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 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
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
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
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
They have been living there for a long time. Now, there have been changes in the forest. Valuable trees are not found. Animals and birds are no longer in the forest. Everything is gone.
— Trinath badanayak · Malakanagiri, Malkangiri, 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
In today's era, forests are undergoing many kinds of changes and losses, such as trees being cut, herbs disappearing, animals becoming extinct, people migrating from one place to another, and insects.
— Sunil oraon · Ranchi, Jharkhand
We have seen many changes in the forest nowadays, such as trees and plants being cut down, the forest being deforested, herbs disappearing, animals and birds going extinct, and the water level depleting.
— Sunil oraon · Ranchi, Jharkhand
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
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
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
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
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
Yes, Dada, you are a resident of the forest. How do you see the changes in the forest? We are seeing all the changes in the forest. All the trees in the forest are being cut down. All the animals and birds are coming everywhere and eating all our rice, black gram, and lentils. Oh, Surasahi people!
— Kanaka Pradhan · Titlagarh, Balangir, Odisha
In the next twenty years, our forest, our culture, customs and traditions, seeds, everything will be destroyed.
— Kachala Choudhary
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
What could be lost in the next 20 years: songs, music, seeds, forests.
— Amar Lal Dhurwey · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh
Currently, we are seeing that trees, animals, and herbs in the forest are being destroyed.
— MUKTA THAKUR · Kalahandi, Odisha
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 believe that if we do nothing, songs, forests, languages, and seeds will be lost within the next 20 years.
— AbhiLL Ipsa
Significant changes or losses are occurring in forests, such as trees and plants being cut down excessively, herbs disappearing, animals becoming extinct, and insects migrating from one place to another.
— Sunil oraon · Ranchi, Jharkhand
How long have people been living in this village? Did your tribe originate in this village or its surrounding areas? What changes have you observed in the forest? Insects, butterflies, moths, wild animals, and sanctuaries can be seen here.
— Praska Gangarao
Our ancestors have lived here for 200 years, and the forests have become so depleted that even water and air have become very scarce.
— Parsuram Sa · Hemagiri, Sundargarh, Odisha
The village has existed for two hundred years. We have our identity because of our unique Kisan language. Before, there was a very beautiful forest. Currently, there is nothing. After the next 20 years, there will be no forest.
— Parsuram Sa · Hemagiri, Sundargarh, 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
The tribal community has been displaced from our forests, and the forests have been destroyed.
— Kachala Choudhary
Death's auspicious and inauspicious beauty. Previously, we used to sustain our livelihoods by collecting various roots from the forest. Now, roots are not available, and animals...
— Sasmita Mallick · 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
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
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
The forest is depleting
— Vinita Singh Yadav · Dharura, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
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
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
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.
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
In remote mountain forests, a community navigates daily life, preserving ancient crops and adapting cultural traditions amidst evolving times.
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 must actively safeguard our local traditions, medicinal plants, and vital forest trees to ensure our heritage and well-being endure.
