Local Plant Habitat

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

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

— Kachala Choudhary

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

— Kachala Choudhary

Herbs are running out, water and forests are getting depleted.

— Vinita Singh Yadav · Mukasim, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh

My name is Sabita Pradhan. My village is Ghosaguda. The block is Tikabali. In earlier times, we used to cultivate in the forests. And we used to cultivate millets, corn, black gram, and horse gram. We used to cultivate all those. Fertilizer was not even needed there. And even if we want to cultivate now, we are not getting seeds. That's why we are requesting the government that if they provide us with seeds, we will be able to cultivate and sustain ourselves.

— Sunita Pradhan · Tikabali, Kandhamal, Odisha

Medicinal plants and roots found in the forest are no longer available. We must protect them.

— Laxmi Bagh · Sundargarh, Odisha

The forest's medicinal plants are depleting.

— Vinita Singh Yadav · Dharura, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh

If we don't save the herbs of the jungle, then all of us will be destroyed.

— Chanda

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

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 tribe has been living in this village for a long time. We are natives of the surrounding area. Now, medicinal herbs...

— Vijay Kumar bhardwaj · Kasdol, Baloda Bazar, Chhattisgarh

The villagers of Amba are making efforts to protect and revive their existing traditional forest. If the government provides some assistance to protect various types of herbal medicines, they will surely be able to protect them.

— Padmalochan Majhi · Ratachua, Rayagada, 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

The people of the village are not allowed to enter the forest for their needs of wood, roots/tubers, or medicinal herbs. So, this is the problem.

— Amar Lal Dhurwey

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

We must protect our forests so that herbs remain.

— Chanda

My name is Susmita Pradhan. We are the indigenous, original inhabitants. We wish to live in harmony with nature, producing our own food. We are demanding the government to conserve the things that are disappearing from the market. We are requesting the government to restore the forest products like roots and various forest items that are disappearing.

— RITARANI PRADHAN · Raikia, Kandhamal, Odisha

Herbs/animals in the forest are undergoing changes or damage.

— AbhiLL Ipsa

People have been living here in Amangara for many years. The forest has been much more damaged now than before. Because of this, we could not collect any medicinal herbs from the forest.

— Padmini Bhoi

Now I am in a lot of trouble because I am not in the forest. It would be very beneficial if medicinal plants were supplied to the village. Now that is not available, so please provide those.

— Parikshit Majhi · Balangir, Odisha

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

There was a forest, but it is no longer there. To obtain medicinal herbs, they planted a forest so that they could get the herbs.

— Padmini Bhoi · SKIP NO LOCATION

I want to bring back the medicinal items, food items, and root vegetables found in our forest, so that they do not disappear.

— Laxmi Bagh · Gandhinagar, Rayagada, Odisha

We want to bring all the traditional medicines, including roots and herbs, that are available. And we want to save the forest. All the traditional games that were played...

— Laxmi Bagh · Sundargarh, Odisha

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

— Kachala Choudhary

I want to save traditional medicine, herbs, roots, and trees.

— Laxmi Bagh · Sundargarh, Odisha

Currently, we are seeing that trees, animals, and herbs in the forest are going to be damaged.

— Premsila Naik

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

My name is Chandrika Pradhan. My village is Panga Bidungia, block is Tikabali. In the olden days, we used to keep seeds in pots. We kept them because, in the olden days, we didn't use fertilizer. Nowadays, we are using fertilizer. That's why we can't keep our seeds for many days. We want to return to the previous state.

— Sunita Pradhan · Tikabali, Kandhamal, Odisha

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

In our village, there is a problem with grazing livestock in the forest. We used to take them into the forest repeatedly, generation after generation, but now the forest guards are prohibiting us, which is a problem.

— Amar Lal Dhurwey

If we do not make some effort, we will lose our traditional seeds, medicinal herbs, pure environment, air, etc.

— Kachala Choudhary