Biodiversity & Traditional Knowledge

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

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

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

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

— Kachala Choudhary

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 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 medicinal things we used to get from plants and leaves are getting lost, and now nobody knows about them. We should bring them back and educate ourselves.

— Anupama Mahanand

Here, our ancestors used to cultivate sava, medon, mijhari, and kodo, whose rice and bread were eaten. Today, they are slowly disappearing. Therefore, we should preserve them so that they remain a part of our lives forever. These are very nutritious and powerful food items.

— Ram Kumari

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

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

— Kachala Choudhary

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

— Kachala Choudhary

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 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

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

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

— Laxmi Bagh · Sundargarh, Odisha

Our ancestors used to consume grains like Kuri, Kudra, Humli, and other similar produce. Those grains are now gone. If the government conducts a survey/preservation effort for them, it would be very beneficial for our people in the future, meaning there would be no illnesses or similar problems.

— Mohan AHARI · Udaipur, Rajasthan

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

We should preserve our culture so that herbs and forests remain.

— Chanda

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 don't do something in the next 20 years, our traditional seeds could disappear.

— Kachala Choudhary

My name is Isaac Sabar, village Zero Number, Panchayat Mandi Mandi, District Kandhamal. I feel that in the current situation, people used to use traditional forest products, which are forest-derived goods, in large quantities to sustain their livelihoods, but due to the lack of forests, they have disappeared. We want to restore the forests so that we can enjoy those forest products just like our ancestors used to.

— SUBASH SABHASUNDAR · Gajapati, Odisha

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

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 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

We believe that if we do nothing, songs, forests, languages, and seeds will be lost within the next 20 years.

— AbhiLL Ipsa

When it was night, I used to feel uneasy. At that time, there were many medicinal herbs, but now they are all gone. I wish they would remain so that we can lead our lives well.

— bachcha lal · Shahganj, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh

Today our medicinal fruit foods are becoming extinct. I will try to encourage people to protect them. Along with that, I myself will also

— KusaPradhani · Gandhinagar, Rayagada, Odisha

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

— NAGRIK VIKASH SANGATHAN · Kalahandi, Odisha

The traditional conversations, food, culture, and tradition-based festivals of tribal people are gradually disappearing. Our elders should hand these over to the current young generation to preserve them.

— Santosh Barik · 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

Earlier, we used to keep seeds in earthen pots with neem leaves, but now those pots are not available. Their traditional profession is slowly coming to an end, and we are also forced to move towards modernity.

— Upendra Kumar Mahananda

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

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

Our traditional mountain songs, which are connected to nature, are slowly disappearing. Therefore, we should make efforts to pass them on to the next generation.

— Vijay kanesh · Alirajpur, Madhya 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 used to eat sitha saga since ancient times. Even now we wish to eat sitha saga, and we will. The forest is being destroyed now.

— swornalata nayak · Gandhinagar, Rayagada, Odisha

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

— Chanda