Habitat Loss & Pollution

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

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

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

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

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

The forests, animals, birds, and springs that used to be in our forest are slowly disappearing.

— Batakrushna Sahoo

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

Oh, there is also a distinct language of our Gonda society. And no one speaks that language anymore, slowly it has also disappeared. And now what we used to get from the forest, we are not getting it from the forest anymore, all the forests are cut down.

— RINA BEHERA · Hemagiri, Sundargarh, Odisha

Change or damage is happening, all the forest trees and creepers are getting destroyed, animals and birds have disappeared.

— Niranjan Bisi · Boudh, Odisha

Humans used to have very useful things. Now, beneficial things have died out. Therefore, since those things are no longer present, our country has become very polluted. As a result, even birds are not there.

— swornalata nayak · Balangir, Odisha

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Humans used to have many useful things, but now those useful things are gone. Therefore, since those things are no longer present, our country has become very polluted. Therefore, birds...

— Parikshit Majhi · Balangir, 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

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

At this time, there are no birds left in the forest. I don't know where the birds have gone, and there are no animals, and plants are becoming very scarce due to deforestation.

— Kamleah Kumar · Dalla, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh

Forest land has been lost.

— अमर जीत · Kon, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh

Forest land has been lost.

— अमर जीत · Kon, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh

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

Nowadays, due to the damage to all forests, animals, birds, and insects are all disappearing.

— Gourang Adhikari · Udulibeda, Malkangiri, Odisha

What kind of change or harm is happening to the forest? Ans: Trees and plants will be destroyed, animals and birds will disappear.

— Rajesh Mallik · Boudh, Odisha

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

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 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

Even many large trees in the forest have been depleted, and there are no medicinal herbs left. Animals and birds in the forest are also disappearing. Therefore, we absolutely need the forest.

— Mukunda Majhi · Udulibeda, Malkangiri, Odisha

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

The forest is depleting

— Vinita Singh Yadav · Dharura, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh

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

There is a lot of blasting happening here, and due to the blasting, the forest is also being destroyed. Animals and birds are also losing their habitats. A lot of forest is being destroyed. Due to the blasting, we cannot even stay here. When a lot of forest is destroyed, we are that much.

— RINA BEHERA · Sundargarh, Odisha

The tribal community has been displaced from our forests, and the forests have been destroyed.

— Kachala Choudhary

Our ancestors have lived here for 200 years, and the forests have become so depleted that even water and air have become very scarce.

— Parsuram Sa · Hemagiri, Sundargarh, Odisha

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