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Sunderlal Bahuguna, who was the pioneer of the famous 'Chipko Movement', has recently passed away, succumbing to Covid-19. Bahuguna has spent his life fighting for the environment and educating villages to protest the destruction of forests in the Himalayan region. The Chipko Movement is an important movement in conserving the local forest. This topic is important for competitive exams such as UPSC, MPSC, UPPCS, and other State exams for Prelim as well as the Main exam. Chipko Movement What is the Chipko movement? • Chipko movement is also regarded as Chipko Andolan. It is a forest conservation movement in India. Began in 1973, it was a non-violent protest against the felling of trees in Uttar Pradesh's Chamoli district (presently in Uttarakhand). • The name of the movement 'Chipko' was derived from villagers hugging trees to prevent them from being cut. • The name was derived from villagers hugging trees in order to prevent them from being cut.
Contribution of Sunderlal Bahuguna • Sunderlal Bahuguna, a Gandhian activist, has been remarkable. Bahuguna is known for giving the movement a proper direction.
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• It has received worldwide recognition for its non-violent aspects of saving trees. The movement inspired in time many similar eco-groups by helping to slow down the rapid deforestation. • The movement also exposed vested interests, increased social awareness and the need to save trees, increased ecological awareness, and demonstrated the viability of people's power. • Bahuguna used the slogan, "Ecology is the permanent economy." Highlights of Chipko Movement • Chipko Movement practiced the methods of Satyagraha. • Both man and woman activists residing in Uttarakhand played a vital role in conserving forests. • The salient aspect of the movement was the mass participation of female villagers. • Although many of its leaders were men, women were not only its backbone but also its mainstay because they were the ones most affected by the rampant deforestation. • Over the years, they also became primary stakeholders in a majority of the afforestation work that happened under the Chipko movement. Six principles of Chipko Movement • The Chipko Volunteers believed that in particular geographical situations, only specific trees and vegetation should be grown, so that appropriate needs for fertilizer, soil, water, and energy can be met. • The activists demanded that the areas affected by landslides and soil erosion, or where forests are crucial for the conservation of water resources, should be identified and reserved. • The local forest dwellers and people residing and depending on the forest produce for their livelihood should be given rights and be given easy access to them. • The contractor system should be completely stopped in forest conservation, development, and exploitation. Instead, people living in these areas should be organized and be guided for community participation. • Local village industries should be set up, based on minor forest produce, to enable the local population to find jobs and to reduce migration from villages. Recognition of Chipko Movement • The Chipko Movement became famous for its work to prevent the destruction of forests and has been active throughout the 1970s and 80s. • In 1987, the Chipko movement was awarded the Right Livelihood Award "for its dedication to the conservation, restoration, and ecologically sound use of India's natural resources. • The movement helped recognize the importance of forests. At least one-third of the area in the country should normally be under the forest; only then can environmental problems be solved. • As per the stats, in India, forests do not cover even half of the area; even the remaining forest area is declining rapidly because of urbanization and industrialization. Sunderlal Bahuguna has also been associated with movements - Tehri Dam Movement in Uttarakhand and Narmada Bachao Andolan across Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra.
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Major Environmental Movements in India Year Movement Led by Place 1730 Bishnoi Amrita Devi Khejarli, Marwar, Movement region in Rajasthan 1973 Chipko Sunderlal Bahuguna and Chamoli, Movement Chandi Prasad Bhatt Uttarakhand 1978 Silent Valley Kerala Sastra Sahitya Kantipuza river in Project Parishad Sugathakumari Kerala. Note: In 1985, it was called off and the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi inaugurated Silent Valley National Park. 1982 Jangal Bachao Tribals of Singhbhum Singhbhum, Bihar Andolan 1983 Appiko Lakshmi Narsimha Yuvak Karnataka Movement Mandali Pandering Hgde 1980s-1990s Tehri Dam Tehri Bandh Virodhi Bhagirathi and Movement Sangarshan Committee, Bhilangama rivers Sunderlal Bahuguna and at Tehri in Veera Dutt Saklani Uttarakhand 1980s to Narmada Bachao Medha Patkar, Arundhati Gujarat, Madhya present Andolan Roy, Sunderlal Bahuguna, Pradesh and Baba Amte Maharashtra Note: total 33 dams, 2 main are Sardar Sarovar Dam and Indira Sagar Project
Some recent Environmental Movements in India Year Movement Led by Place 2019 Climate Action Greta Thunburg, Students in metro Strike Bittu KR cities in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Chennai 2019 Right to Breathe Leonardo De Caprio India Gate, New
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Protest Delhi 2020 Save Dehing- All India Assam Tinsukia, Assam Patkai Student Union (AASU) and All Assam matak Youth Students’ Union 2019-20 Save Aarey Online campaign Sunderbans are #SavetheSunderbans largest mangrove forests in the world, located in the delta region of ganga and Brahmaputra rivers.
How Himalayan region benefitted from the Chipko Movement? • The Himalayan region is characterized by the high mountains and valleys, with different types of vegetation, flowers, pastures, and glaciers. • This is one of the most beautiful areas in the world. • It keeps the atmospheric circulation in balance over a large part of the Indian subcontinent. • Rivers in this region are born out of glaciers; prominent ones in India are Ganga-Yamuna and their tributaries such as Bhagirathi, Alaknanda, Sharda, and others. • As they pass through the forests and rainwater is gradually passed through them, preventing soil erosion and hence protecting the food systems depending on the forests. Therefore, any disruption in the forest and ecological balance would grossly impact the livelihood and sustenance of the local people. Various products such as firewood and timber, grass, vegetables, honey, medicinal herbs, and fruits, etc. Forests are central for maintaining a balance in the physical environment as agriculture and animal husbandry are also dependent on forests. The ecological balance and traditional human relations with forests are intertwined. Forests are central for maintaining a balance in the physical environment as agriculture and animal husbandry are also dependent on forests. The ecological balance and traditional human relations with forests are intertwined.