A dimension within Environmental Degradation
Focusing on the importance of forest conservation for biodiversity and natural resources.
150 voices speak to this
Negative
Overall Community Sentiment
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
The forest's medicinal plants are depleting.
— Vinita Singh Yadav · Dharura, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
Herbs are running out, water and forests are getting depleted.
— Vinita Singh Yadav · Mukasim, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
In the forest, all the ancient trees are disappearing. And all the medicinal trees are also disappearing.
— Anupama Mahanand
Large trees have been cut down, due to which it is becoming difficult to find forest vegetables and herbs.
— Kachala Choudhary
In this eternal forest, various valuable trees and medicinal plants are slowly starting to disappear.
— NAGRIK VIKASH SANGATHAN · Kalahandi, 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
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
The herbs, vegetables, fruits, and trees have been depleted from the forest.
— Kachala Choudhary
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
Medicinal plants and roots found in the forest are no longer available. We must protect them.
— Laxmi Bagh · Sundargarh, Odisha
The forests, animals, birds, and springs that used to be in our forest are slowly disappearing.
— Batakrushna Sahoo
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
The forest is depleting
— Vinita Singh Yadav · Dharura, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
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
Fruit trees and vegetable plants have disappeared from our forests.
— Kachala Choudhary
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Herbs/animals in the forest are undergoing changes or damage.
— AbhiLL Ipsa
If no steps are taken for forest protection within the next 20 years, then various trees, animals, birds, and medicinal plants in the forest will all disappear.
— NAGRIK VIKASH SANGATHAN · Kalahandi, Odisha
Currently, we are seeing that trees, animals, and herbs in the forest are being destroyed.
— MUKTA THAKUR · Kalahandi, Odisha
Today, when we talk about forest products, things like root vegetables and fruits such as Kendu, Baheda, and Harida, which also had medicinal properties, are no longer available. They have now become extinct or are found in very small quantities.
— Debendra Suna · Gandhinagar, Rayagada, Odisha
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
The forest, the forest, the forest. Its liquid resources are slowly being depleted. Forests are absolutely necessary. These two types of cherries have become scarce. That specific thing will only be available if there is a forest.
— Keshab Majhi · Naniriguda, Rayagada, Odisha
Forest land has been lost.
— अमर जीत · Kon, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
Forest land has been lost.
— अमर जीत · Kon, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
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
Change or damage is happening, all the forest trees and creepers are getting destroyed, animals and birds have disappeared.
— Niranjan Bisi · Boudh, Odisha
Locally available wild food products that are nutritious are very scarce in our area because the forests here are on the verge of extinction.
— Sunil oraon · Ranchi, Jharkhand
Name - Udaya Guruteli Village - Jamuguda District - Malkangiri In the forest I observed, trees, creepers, birds, various kinds of medicinal plants, and weeds are decreasing.
— S Guruteli
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
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
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
If we do not protect our forests, then the medicinal herbs and trees of our forests, which contribute to our economic situation, may be destroyed. Therefore, it is very important to protect our forests.
— Chanda
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.

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

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

In remote mountain forests, a community navigates daily life, preserving ancient crops and adapting cultural traditions amidst evolving times.