A dimension within Forest & Biodiversity Loss
This theme connects deforestation with severe water and food scarcity, exacerbated by drought, and includes discussions around the need for forest afforestation.
150 voices speak to this
Each dimension splits this theme further — keep drilling to see how it breaks down.
Negative
Overall Community Sentiment
AI-synthesised pieces woven from many community voices on this theme. They may contain errors or interpretation — they're a reflection of the stories, not a record of fact.
Due to excessive deforestation, we specifically have a shortage of water. Also, there is a significant shortage of food and fruits.
— Karunakar Uthansing · Maradipanga, Kandhamal, Odisha
Due to forests being destroyed day by day and the lack of proper rainfall, agriculture is not doing well.
— Suna Majhi
For us, due to this forest being depleted, there are all these types of dry wood, resin, and charcoal.
— Upendra Kumar Mahananda
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
Due to deforestation, we are unable to cultivate properly. It is not raining.
— Karunakar Uthansing · Dhusarigan, Kandhamal, Odisha
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 voices in this theme were gathered by these organisations through their community reports.
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
Large trees have been cut down, due to which it is becoming difficult to find forest vegetables and herbs.
— Kachala Choudhary
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
In Amahei forest, most of the forest was once valuable. It seems that today, due to excessive trading of dry wood, trees are no longer found in abundance.
— S Guruteli · Mutebeda, Malkangiri, Odisha
It is only due to your (mere) invitation/request that there is a lack of trees and plants on the hills. As a result, we are not getting rain on time. Also, due to deforestation, wood, leaves, or roots, which were helpful for our survival, are not available. Therefore, we request the government to plant trees and plants in our forests as part of afforestation. And if some assistance was provided, it would have been good. Proper management.
— Subash Sabhasundar · Maradipanga, Kandhamal, 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
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
Nutritious forest food items are not found in our area because very few forests are left here.
— Sunil oraon · Ranchi, Jharkhand
The forest is depleting
— Vinita Singh Yadav · Dharura, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
The herbs, vegetables, fruits, and trees have been depleted from the forest.
— Kachala Choudhary
Currently, in our forest, bamboo is not found, other wild produce is not found, mushrooms are not found. Also, our cashews are not doing well; the cashew cultivation that used to happen before is also not doing well.
— jitendra khila · Gandhinagar, Rayagada, Odisha
Herbs are running out, water and forests are getting depleted.
— Vinita Singh Yadav · Mukasim, 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
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
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
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
Fruit trees and vegetable plants have disappeared from our forests.
— Kachala Choudhary
Our medicinal herbs, vegetables, fruits, and trees are depleting from the forests.
— Kachala Choudhary
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
We are not getting food to eat. Brother, the forest is completely depleted. When they destroyed everything by cutting down trees for mining, after that, now we are deprived of things like Charikuli, Barukuli, Kendu, and even bears (Bhalia), including the black bear (Kala Bhalia).
— swornalata nayak · Gandhinagar, Rayagada, Odisha
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
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
Depletion of natural resources, trees are being cut down, ponds are getting filled up, the balance of nature is deteriorating.
— VEER SINGH SIJUI · Seraikela-Kharsawan, Jharkhand
Animals and birds living in the forest are becoming very scarce and are rarely seen. Trees and plants are also significantly decreasing due to deforestation. And sometimes it also happens that fires break out in summer (Jeth) because the forests themselves are diminishing.
— Kamleah Kumar · Dalla, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
Today, significant changes are being observed in the forests of our region. Forests are being cut down, leading to climate change. Rain is occurring at irregular times. Agriculture is also being affected.
— Sunil oraon · Ranchi, Jharkhand
Nowadays, forests are being cleared. We used to get food from the forest, but now we are not getting it. Instead, we are consuming food grown with chemical fertilizers.
— jitendra khila · kudumulugumma, Malkangiri, Odisha
Today, the forest's food, especially its fruits, is experiencing the greatest scarcity.
— Priti Majhi · Subdega, 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 forests, animals, birds, and springs that used to be in our forest are slowly disappearing.
— Batakrushna Sahoo
Change or damage is happening, all the forest trees and creepers are getting destroyed, animals and birds have disappeared.
— Niranjan Bisi · Boudh, Odisha
Locally available wild food products that are nutritious are very scarce in our area because the forests here are on the verge of extinction.
— Sunil oraon · Ranchi, Jharkhand
Old, traditional foods are not available. As a result, the forest was also destroyed. The food that should be available is not available.
— Keshab Majhi · Gandhinagar, Rayagada, Odisha
