A dimension within Heritage & Biodiversity Protection
Exploring the intersection of traditional medicine, medicinal plants, and forest conservation.
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.

Faced with the loss of their natural forest, a community took action to plant a new one specifically for medicinal herbs.

We must actively safeguard our local traditions, medicinal plants, and vital forest trees to ensure our heritage and well-being endure.

In Sonbhadra, an elder reflects on the community's evolving traditions, from festive celebrations and unique tribal customs to environmental shifts and new livelihoods, holding onto the hope of preser

By cherishing and utilizing the traditional foods and herbs found in our forests and lands, we can sustain ourselves and combat malnutrition while preserving our natural heritage.
Herbs, vegetable trees, medicinal plants are becoming extinct from our forests.
— Kachala Choudhary
Our medicinal herbs, vegetables, fruits, and trees are depleting from the forests.
— Kachala Choudhary
The forest's medicinal plants are depleting.
— Vinita Singh Yadav · Dharura, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
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
Medicinal plants and roots found in the forest are no longer available. We must protect them.
— Laxmi Bagh · Sundargarh, Odisha
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
Medicinal plants are on the verge of extinction in the forest. The forest should be protected.
— upendra sunani · Gandhinagar, Rayagada, 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
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
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
Herbs are running out, water and forests are getting depleted.
— Vinita Singh Yadav · Mukasim, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
Due to deforestation, our medicinal herbs, like chirata, are diminishing, which in ancient times greatly contributed to people's health.
— upendra sunani
In this eternal forest, various valuable trees and medicinal plants are slowly starting to disappear.
— NAGRIK VIKASH SANGATHAN · Kalahandi, Odisha
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
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
We must protect our forests so that herbs remain.
— Chanda
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
In the forest, all the ancient trees are disappearing. And all the medicinal trees are also disappearing.
— Anupama Mahanand
Large trees have been cut down, due to which it is becoming difficult to find forest vegetables and herbs.
— Kachala Choudhary
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
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
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
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
First, in our village, concerning the ancient medicinal herbs, the forest of these herbs was cleared. Now, the herbs do not take root. So, how can we keep them alive? She is asking this.
— Devisingh Solanki · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh
We are gradually destroying the traditional seeds of ancient times. We should preserve those seeds. Otherwise, some medicines and plants are leading to their extinction.
— VEER SINGH SIJUI · Gitilāta, Seraikela-Kharsawan, Jharkhand
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
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
If we do not protect our forests, then the medicinal herbs and trees of our forests, which contribute to our economic situation, may be destroyed. Therefore, it is very important to protect our forests.
— Chanda
The herbs, vegetables, fruits, and trees have been depleted from the forest.
— Kachala Choudhary
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
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
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
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
The medicinal things we used to get from plants and leaves are getting lost, and now nobody knows about them. We should bring them back and educate ourselves.
— Anupama Mahanand
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
Herbs/animals in the forest are undergoing changes or damage.
— AbhiLL Ipsa
The forests, animals, birds, and springs that used to be in our forest are slowly disappearing.
— Batakrushna Sahoo
I want to save traditional medicine, herbs, roots, and trees.
— Laxmi Bagh · Sundargarh, 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
If we don't save the herbs of the jungle, then all of us will be destroyed.
— Chanda
The voices in this theme were gathered by these organisations through their community reports.

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