Deforestation & Wildlife

Adama, who are you in the village? How was the forest before, and how is it now? There used to be a forest, but now it's gone. There are no animals or wildlife left.

— Kanaka Pradhan · Balangir, Odisha

Earlier, the forest was vast. And now, what is the forest like? The forest was good before. All these animals and birds used to get food. The forest was full and abundant.

— Kanaka Pradhan · Balangir, Odisha

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

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

— Niranjan Bisi · Boudh, Odisha

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

Mother, when you were in the village, there used to be a forest center, and there is still a forest center now. Earlier, the forest was good, and animals and birds used to find food. But now, since the forest has been cut down, monkeys are coming and eating the village's crops.

— Kanaka Pradhan · Balangir, Odisha

Forest land has been lost.

— अमर जीत · Kon, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh

Forest land has been lost.

— अमर जीत · Kon, 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

At this time, there are no birds left in the forest. I don't know where the birds have gone, and there are no animals, and plants are becoming very scarce due to deforestation.

— Kamleah Kumar · Dalla, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh

The forests, animals, birds, and springs that used to be in our forest are slowly disappearing.

— Batakrushna Sahoo

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

— Kachala Choudhary

The forest is depleting

— Vinita Singh Yadav · Dharura, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh

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, 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

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

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

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

Before, there used to be a very dense forest and thick, large bushes.

— Surajsingh Parmar · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh

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

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

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

We, the Boram community, have been residing here for a long time. When our ancestors arrived, there were extensive dense forests. Elephants, wild boars, tigers, and bears were abundant. Now, nothing is left. Due to the coal mine operations, everything has been cleared.

— Parsuram Sa · Sundargarh, 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

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

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

— Kachala Choudhary

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

— MUKTA THAKUR · Kalahandi, Odisha

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

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

— AbhiLL Ipsa

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

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

What is not found in our forest. Sarbaria mushrooms used to be found in our forest before. Now they are not. Then, Bausi mushrooms, they are also not abundant. The Bausi (bamboo) plants also died out. And where are our old Kendu branches to speak of now?

— jitendra khila · Gandhinagar, Rayagada, Odisha

Fruit trees and vegetable plants have disappeared from our forests.

— Kachala Choudhary

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

First, in our village, concerning the ancient medicinal herbs, the forest of these herbs was cleared. Now, the herbs do not take root. So, how can we keep them alive? She is asking this.

— Devisingh Solanki · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh

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

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

We have seen the damage happening in the forest, impacting all its animals, birds, trees, and plants.

— Kamleah Kumar · Ammatola, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh

Animals and birds living in the forest are becoming very scarce and are rarely seen. Trees and plants are also significantly decreasing due to deforestation. And sometimes it also happens that fires break out in summer (Jeth) because the forests themselves are diminishing.

— Kamleah Kumar · Dalla, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh

Earlier, our house was next to a forest. We used to collect medicinal herbs from it. Now, it's just a forest line, as if the forest has become hidden.

— Padmini Bhoi