Forest Rights & Restoration

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

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

If I get an opportunity, I will try to restore the various types of medicinal plants that have been lost from our traditional forests.

— Susanta Toika · Gandhinagar, Rayagada, Odisha

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

My name is Rashmita Pradhan. Just as our ancestors remained healthy by eating fruits and roots found in the forest, prepared without chemicals, we also wish to eat the same food now. We are from tribal-dominated areas. Our forest is our lifeline. Therefore, our ancient traditions should be restored, and our forest should not be destroyed. Thank you. Raika Kandhamal.

— RITARANI PRADHAN · Raikia, Kandhamal, Odisha

My name is Surendra Podra. I am from Gurumundi village, Katinga Gram Panchayat, Dani block, Kandhamal district. I want to highlight the environmental degradation of today. Our ancestors used to live in the forest, depending on roots, greens, and various other things. But... I express my desire to bring back that kind of environment.

— SUBASH SABHASUNDAR · Gajapati, Odisha

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

— Chanda

People want to bring back the lost forest food products.

— Priti Majhi

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

We can collect all the medicinal things found in the forest and show them to future generations and preserve them.

— Anupama Mahanand

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 must protect our forests so that herbs remain.

— Chanda

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

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

— Kachala Choudhary

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

— Laxmi Bagh · Sundargarh, Odisha

We should protect our culture so that our food items from the forests and cultural programs remain alive.

— Vijay Kumar bhardwaj · Baloda Bazar, Chhattisgarh

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

My name is Rina Kuonro. We are the tribal indigenous people. We produce food and collect from the forest, and we express our desire to live with the forest or with nature. This is a humble request to the government for us, and please pay attention to the forest-derived food that we can obtain.

— RITARANI PRADHAN · Raikia, Kandhamal, Odisha

We all used to get forest products before, but now they are not available. Therefore, forests should be protected. It would be good if everyone remains aware.

— KusaPradhani · Tapurbuduni, Rayagada, Odisha

Traditional songs and forest herbs should be protected.

— Chanda

Today, do you feel your food is more connected to forest or agricultural life? Firstly, it is necessary to raise awareness in every village to protect the forest and forest-derived foods.

— Niranjan Bisi · Bissamcuttack, Rayagada, 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

The villagers of Amba are making efforts to protect and revive their existing traditional forest. If the government provides some assistance to protect various types of herbal medicines, they will surely be able to protect them.

— Padmalochan Majhi · Ratachua, Rayagada, Odisha

So that future generations can know about the trees and plants in the forests that protect us from disease.

— Sunita Kumari · Ghorawal, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh

My name is Maneni Pradhan, from Raikakonda Malu. We, the indigenous original inhabitants, produce food from the forest and want to live with nature. We are expressing this desire. We are humbly requesting the government that all these efforts be made for us.

— RITARANI PRADHAN · Raikia, Kandhamal, Odisha

Medicinal plants are on the verge of extinction in the forest. The forest should be protected.

— upendra sunani · Gandhinagar, Rayagada, Odisha

We indigenous people used to eat roots and tubers from the forests and sustained ourselves with them. These also served as medicine, keeping our bodies healthy. Even today, we should use roots and tubers.

— Ram Kumari · Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh

Our ancestors lived by eating forest-grown tubers. We also now wish to prepare and eat all the food that is made through the destruction of those tubers. Therefore, we request the government to stop all of that and make arrangements.

— RITARANI PRADHAN · Raikia, Kandhamal, Odisha

So that future generations can also know about all the trees and plants in the forests that protect us from diseases.

— Sunita Kumari · Ghorawal, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh

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

I will collect food found in the forest and feed the children, and use it traditionally.

— Anupama Mahanand

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

— Kachala Choudhary

We tribal people bring herbs from the forest to treat many diseases, for the well-being of people.

— Ram Maravi · Dindori, Madhya Pradesh

I am going to the forest and collecting Kanda mushroom, medicinal type plants from the forest, bringing them, and using them.

— biswanath sahoo