“What was Chipko Andolan”? How did this Andolan ultimately benefit the local people and the environment?
“What was Chipko Andolan”? How did this Andolan ultimately benefit the local people and the environment?
The Chipko Andolan ('Hug the Trees Movement') was a grassroots forest conservation movement started in the early 1970s in a remote village called Reni in Garhwal, where local women clasped/hugged the tree trunks to prevent them from being logged by contractors.
Benefits to the local people and the environment:
- Local People: It secured their traditional livelihood and access to forest resources (like fodder, fuel, and food) which were threatened by commercial exploitation.
- Environment: It prevented large-scale deforestation, soil erosion, and landslides in the sensitive Himalayan region, thereby preserving the local ecosystem and ecological balance.
Marking Scheme
- 1Definition of Chipko Andolan (clasping/hugging trees to prevent logging in Garhwal). (0.5 marks)
- 2Benefits to local people (livelihood/forest produce) and environment (preventing deforestation/soil erosion). (0.5 marks)
Hint
Think of a movement in the 1970s in Garhwal where people physically protected trees from being cut down.
Quick Oral Answer
Chipko Andolan was a forest conservation movement in the 1970s in Garhwal where women hugged trees to stop contractors from cutting them. It saved the local forests, prevented soil erosion, and protected the livelihoods of the local people.
Analysis & Explanation
The Chipko Andolan is a classic example of community-led environmental conservation. When commercial logging threatened the local forests, the indigenous women recognized that their survival was directly linked to the trees (which prevent soil erosion and provide water and food). By physically hugging the trees, they forced the government to rethink forest management policies, leading to a ban on commercial felling in the region for fifteen years. This highlighted the interdependence between human communities (biotic component) and their physical surroundings (abiotic component).
Common Mistakes
- 1Confusing Chipko Andolan with the Bishnoi movement (which happened much earlier in Rajasthan).
- 2Failing to mention both the benefit to the local people and the benefit to the environment separately.
Interesting Facts
The movement was led by local women, notably Gaura Devi, who stood up against armed contractors to protect their community forests.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many marks does this question carry in CBSE Class 10 Science 2016?
This question carries 1 mark in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2016 examination.
Which chapter does this question come from in Science?
This question is from the chapter "Our Environment" in the CBSE Class 10 Science syllabus.
What topic does this question cover in Science?
This question covers the topic "Human Impact on Environment and Conservation" from CBSE Class 10 Science.
What type of question is this in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2016 paper?
This is a Very Short Answer question from Section A in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2016 paper.