A dimension within Deforestation & Cultural Impact
This theme addresses the severe consequences of forest destruction, such as wildlife loss, crop damage, and the effects of coal mining.
150 voices speak to this
Each dimension splits this theme further — keep drilling to see how it breaks down.
Neutral
Overall Community Sentiment
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
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
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
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
There was a forest in our village.
— Laba Kumar sabar · Bada Baridi, Rayagada, 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
In ancient times, our Aamli, Kuri, Vati, and Mal, the wood visible in this forest used to be cut, and then crops were sown, and that was...
— Mohan AHARI · Dabaycha, Udaipur, Rajasthan
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
Our village is a very ancient village. Tigers, bears, and deer used to be there but are no longer. Sandalwood trees, large birds, and peacocks are also gone. The spring is not flowing, and there is no rain.
— Anirudha Marai
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
The forests, animals, birds, and springs that used to be in our forest are slowly disappearing.
— Batakrushna Sahoo
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, 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 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
Forest land has been lost.
— अमर जीत · Kon, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
Forest land has been lost.
— अमर जीत · Kon, Sonbhadra, Uttar 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 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
We have been living in our village for 100 years. Nowadays, there are no animals. The forests are also dwindling, and songs and dances are also disappearing.
— sudhir gamanga · Bada Baridi, Rayagada, Odisha
The forest is depleting
— Vinita Singh Yadav · Dharura, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
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
In the tribal area, in earlier times, there were many herbs and their culture. But today, due to deforestation, many birds could not even disperse, and traditional food practices could also not be preserved, leading to their extinction.
— Mohan AHARI · Sarera, Udaipur, Rajasthan
In olden times, many kinds of herbs were available in our village, but in the current situation, due to the cutting of this forest, some conservation efforts could not be made, which means for us in the coming time...
— Mohan AHARI · Sarera, Udaipur, Rajasthan
Change or damage is happening, all the forest trees and creepers are getting destroyed, animals and birds have disappeared.
— Niranjan Bisi · Boudh, Odisha
The main occupation of our tribe is agriculture and animal husbandry. What changes and harms occur in the forest? What has been lost in 20 years? If anything, songs, forest seeds, etc.
— Laxmanlal
Death's auspicious and inauspicious beauty. Previously, we used to sustain our livelihoods by collecting various roots from the forest. Now, roots are not available, and animals...
— Sasmita Mallick · Gandhinagar, Rayagada, Odisha
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
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
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
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
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
The herbs, vegetables, fruits, and trees have been depleted from the forest.
— Kachala Choudhary
Before, there used to be a very dense forest and thick, large bushes.
— Surajsingh Parmar · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh
We have seen the damage caused to those living in the forest. We have seen the damage caused to animals, birds, and plants living in the forest.
— Kamleah Kumar · Ammatola, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
We used to get honey and resin from our forest, but now we don't.
— Upendra Kumar Mahananda
We have seen the damage happening in the forest, impacting all its animals, birds, trees, and plants.
— Kamleah Kumar · Ammatola, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
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
The village has existed for two hundred years. We have our identity because of our unique Kisan language. Before, there was a very beautiful forest. Currently, there is nothing. After the next 20 years, there will be no forest.
— Parsuram Sa · Hemagiri, Sundargarh, 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
We have been born and living in this village for almost many years, about 40 years. Our father, grandfathers, and uncles all live here, and gradually various traditions are dying out, and the forests are being destroyed.
— Ulapi Sahu · Patnāgarh, Balangir, Odisha
