The Chipko Movement

The Chipko Movement began in the 1970s in India as a grassroots environmental campaign to protect trees from deforestation. Villagers, particularly women, hugged trees to prevent loggers from cutting them down, emphasizing the importance of forests for their livelihoods and ecology. The movement highlighted the need for sustainable forest management and raised awareness about environmental conservation. It inspired similar actions worldwide and is celebrated for its role in environmental activism, empowering local communities to advocate for their natural resources and the planet's health.