Chipko moment

The name of the Chipko moment originated from the word ’embrace’ as the villagers used to hug the trees and protect them from wood cutters from cutting them. The movement practiced Gandhian methods of satyagraha and non-violent resistance, to protect them from being felled. The modern Chipko movement started in the early 1970s in the GarhwalHimalayas of Uttarakhand, then in Uttar Pradesh with growing awareness of rapid deforestation. It was the strong uprising against those people, who were destroying the natural resources of the forests and disturbing the whole ecological balance. “

“Maatuhamru, paanihamru, hamra hi chhanyibaunbhi… Pitronnalagaibaun, hamunahi ta bachonbhi” Soil ours, water ours, ours are these forests. Our forefathers raised them, it’s we who must protect them. — Old Chipko Song (Garhwali language)”

Strategies used
Chipko means tree hugging or “embrace” as the villagers hugged the trees. Locally it is called as Angwal.
The movement is best known for its tactic of hugging trees to prevent them being cut down and to prevent commercial timber harvesting. Rallies were organized to protect the forest from mass destruction. Village women were mobilized for the movement when company men marched to cut the trees. Effectiveness

The movement has spread to many states in the country.
It stopped felling of trees in the Western Ghats and the Vindhyas. Generated pressure for formulation of a natural resource policy. Achieved a major victory in 1980 with a 15-year ban on green felling in the Himalayan forests More than 1,00,000 trees have been saved from excavation.

Started protecting forest slopes and Restoring bare ones.
Afterward environmental awareness increased dramatically in India. New methods of forest farming have been developed, both to conserve the forests and create employment. By 1981, over a million trees had been planted through their efforts. Villagers paid special attention in care of the trees and forest trees are being used judiciously.