Describe how communities have conserved and protected forests and wildlife in India?
Answer:
Communities in India have played a significant role in protecting forests and wildlife through traditional and organized efforts:
- Chipko Movement (1970s): Villagers in Uttarakhand, especially women, hugged trees to prevent deforestation.
- Joint Forest Management (JFM): A government-community partnership where locals help protect forests in exchange for benefits like fuelwood and minor forest products.
- Sacred Groves: Many tribal and rural communities in states like Rajasthan and Meghalaya protect forests as sacred lands.
- Beej Bachao Andolan: A community initiative in Uttarakhand that promotes indigenous seed conservation and sustainable farming.
These efforts show that community participation is crucial for forest and wildlife conservation.