A dimension within Traditional Health & Rights
This theme highlights the conservation of medicinal plants and biodiversity, linking them to traditional medicine, food, and the broader natural environment threatened by deforestation.
150 voices speak to this
Each dimension splits this theme further — keep drilling to see how it breaks down.
Negative
Overall Community Sentiment
In earlier times, we used to get medicine from the forest.
— Amar Lal Dhurwey · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh
In earlier times, medicinal fruits were found in the forest, but now those things are becoming extinct day by day.
— Amar Lal Dhurwey · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh
Traditionally, we used to use various types of medicinal properties from the forest.
— Suna majhi
In ancient traditions, when people had any health problems or diseases, they would use medicinal roots and herbs found in the forest to get well.
— Suna majhi · Gopalpur, Rayagada, Odisha
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
Due to deforestation, our medicinal herbs, like chirata, are diminishing, which in ancient times greatly contributed to people's health.
— upendra sunani
Previously, gethi kanda and bejaan kanda were found in the forest. All of that is now finished and needs to be protected. And all these medicines are herbs.
— Babulal Ayam · Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
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
Our medicinal herbs, vegetables, fruits, and trees are depleting from the forests.
— Kachala Choudhary
The disappearance of medicinal plants and herbs; earlier, medicinal herbs could be found in forests, but now everything is disappearing.
— VEER SINGH SIJUI · Kharasawan, Seraikela-Kharsawan, Jharkhand
In ancient times, we easily survived on the fruits and medicinal properties found in the forests. However, if we look at today's situation, humans need financial support...
— Upendra Kumar Mahananda
In our village, treatment was done with wild herbs, which is decreasing today. If it is not saved in the future, it will gradually disappear.
— Vijay kanesh · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh
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 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
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
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
Before, we used to eat saag roti, kurthi dal, urad dal, and mahua saag. Sometimes we would find amla and bael from the forest, and that's how we used to sustain our lives.
— Ram Kumari · Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
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
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
Herbs, vegetable trees, medicinal plants are becoming extinct from our forests.
— Kachala Choudhary
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
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 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
Today, when we talk about forest products, things like root vegetables and fruits such as Kendu, Baheda, and Harida, which also had medicinal properties, are no longer available. They have now become extinct or are found in very small quantities.
— Debendra Suna · Gandhinagar, Rayagada, Odisha
The forest's medicinal plants are depleting.
— Vinita Singh Yadav · Dharura, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
In the past, various types of forest products, fruits, and roots were available, but now it requires effort.
— Padmalochan Majhi · Ratachua, Rayagada, Odisha
Medicinal plants and roots found in the forest are no longer available. We must protect them.
— Laxmi Bagh · Sundargarh, Odisha
We want to bring all the traditional medicines, including roots and herbs, that are available. And we want to save the forest. All the traditional games that were played...
— Laxmi Bagh · Sundargarh, 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
Due to the cutting of trees and plants in the village, various herbs and food items are becoming extinct. We can protect them.
— Mohan AHARI · Sarera, Udaipur, Rajasthan
When it was night, I used to feel uneasy. At that time, there were many medicinal herbs, but now they are all gone. I wish they would remain so that we can lead our lives well.
— bachcha lal · Shahganj, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
In the olden days, our parents and we used to gather and eat a lot of Barada Saga (a type of leafy green) from the forest. But now, due to deforestation, we no longer find Barada Saga. We hope to eat Barada Saga again.
— swornalata nayak · Gandhinagar, Rayagada, Odisha
We can use muIdim found in the forest as traditional medicine.
— Anupama Mahanand · Sundargarh, Odisha
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
Traditional medicinal remedies are being prepared for obtaining by searching for medicinal herbs, fruits, roots, and other medicinal items from the forest.
— Padmalochan Majhi · Gandhinagar, Rayagada, Odisha
I want to bring back the medicinal items, food items, and root vegetables found in our forest, so that they do not disappear.
— Laxmi Bagh · Gandhinagar, Rayagada, Odisha
We tribal people bring herbs from the forest and treat ailments, which is very important for health.
— Ram Maravi · Dindori, Madhya Pradesh
We tribal people bring herbs from the forest to treat many diseases, for the well-being of people.
— Ram Maravi · Dindori, Madhya 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
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