A dimension within Forest & Biodiversity Conservation
This theme addresses the loss of traditional forest products and food due to deforestation, emphasizing conservation efforts.
150 voices speak to this
Each dimension splits this theme further — keep drilling to see how it breaks down.
Neutral
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.
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
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
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 Susmita Pradhan. We are the indigenous, original inhabitants. We wish to live in harmony with nature, producing our own food. We are demanding the government to conserve the things that are disappearing from the market. We are requesting the government to restore the forest products like roots and various forest items that are disappearing.
— RITARANI PRADHAN · Raikia, Kandhamal, 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.
The voices in this theme were gathered by these organisations through their community reports.
— SUBASH SABHASUNDAR · Gajapati, 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
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 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
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
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
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 should preserve our culture so that herbs and forests remain.
— Chanda
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
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
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 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
Long live rural discussions. The forests that are present in our lives are depleting. We need to plant more trees, otherwise society will be destroyed.
— Jadumani Nial · Gandhinagar, Rayagada, Odisha
I myself want to bring back the lost forest produce, which people are over-exploiting.
— Priti Majhi
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
We should protect our culture so that our food items from the forests and cultural programs remain alive.
— Vijay Kumar bhardwaj · Baloda Bazar, Chhattisgarh
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 must protect our forests so that herbs remain.
— Chanda
We must protect our water, forest, and land, or else, gradually, the forest department will have our forests cut down, which was our family's ancestral home.
— Ram Maravi · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh
I want to save traditional medicine, herbs, roots, and trees.
— Laxmi Bagh · Sundargarh, Odisha
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 should protect our forests. Many living beings and animals live there. Trees have started to be cut down, so they should be saved.
— Mohan AHARI · Patiya, Udaipur, Rajasthan
Now, not much food is available in the forest, but our community's traditional grains like Kodo Kutki khichdi, dalia, and Tur, Chana, and Masoor dals should be included in the PDS, and our children should also receive these in their midday meals.
— Rupesh Maravi · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh
People want to bring back the lost forest food products.
— Priti Majhi
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
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
Here, our ancestors used to cultivate sava, medon, mijhari, and kodo, whose rice and bread were eaten. Today, they are slowly disappearing. Therefore, we should preserve them so that they remain a part of our lives forever. These are very nutritious and powerful food items.
— Ram Kumari
There are no longer ancient trees in our forest that could be used for household furniture. If we protect the forest again, our future generations can get them.
— Upendra Kumar Mahananda
Medicinal plants and roots found in the forest are no longer available. We must protect them.
— Laxmi Bagh · Sundargarh, 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
We should preserve our culture because traditional knowledge and science are associated with it. If we do not preserve it, traditional knowledge and science will disappear. From the forest...
— Sunil oraon · Ranchi, Jharkhand
Our medicinal herbs, vegetables, fruits, and trees are depleting from the forests.
— Kachala Choudhary
The old foods that were in our memory are slowly fading away, becoming like mere remnants in a basin. Let's also talk about the forest. If those remain, our culture will also remain. It is interwoven.
— Saunri Murmu
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
We should protect forest trees for a pure environment.
— Sunita Kumari · Ghorawal, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
The government should protect the traditions and forests of the tribals; if the tribals exist, the forests will also be safe.
— Gopal · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh
