Environmental Movements: One or Many?| Class 12 Polity Notes

Environmental Movement is a type of social movement that involves individuals or groups of people who have a common interest in protecting the environment and they take actions to bring changes in environmental policies and practices to save the environment from pollution, deforestation, global warming, and climate change.

Environmental and Ecological movements are examples of actions taken by several social pro-environmentalist groups all around the world.

In this article, You will get the Notes of Class 12 Political Science, Chapter 6 – Environmental Movements.

• Environment movements are led by a group of environmentally conscious volunteers working in different parts of the world Some of them work at the International level but most of them work at the local level and they try to take action against the government’s false decisions on environmental issues.

• The forest movement of the south in Mexico, Chile, Brazil, Malaysia, Indonesia, Continental Africa and India faced various pressures.

• Another group of movements are those involved in the struggle against mega-dams.In every country where is mega-dam is built, one is likely to find an environmental movement opposing it.

• The early 1980s saw the first anti-dam movement launched in the North was the campaign to save the Franklin River and its surrounding forest in Australia. India has experienced some of the leading anti-dam and pro-river movements. Narmada Bachao Andolan is an example of such a movement.

• The increasing control over nature in the form of industrial growth, degradation of natural resources and not curing or tackling pollution in the right way has resulted in an imbalance in the bio-spheric system.

• Sometimes government or corporate policies that are meant to improve people’s lives can have unintended negative consequences for the environment. For example – building a dam might provide irrigation and hydroelectric power but it can also displace people and disrupt ecosystems.

The major reasons for the Environmental movements in India are as follows :

• Private and government sector control over natural resources.
• False environmental policies of the government.
• Right to access to forest resources.
• Non-commercial use of natural resources.
• Social justice and human rights.
• Socioeconomic reasons.
• Environmental degradation.
• Not tackling any type of pollution in the right way.

Many environmental movements have emerged in India, especially after the 1970s. These movements have grown out of a series of independent responses to local issues in different places at different times. 

Some of the best-known environmental movements in India have been briefly described below:

The Silent Valley Movement

• The Silent Valley is located in the Palghat district of Kerala.
• It is surrounded by different hills of the State. 
• The idea of a dam on the river Kunthipuzha in this hill system was conceived by the British in 1929. 
• The technical feasibility survey was carried out in 1958 and the project was sanctioned by the Planning Commission of the Government of India in 1973. 
• In 1978, the movement against the project from all corners was raised from all sections of the population. 
• The movement was first initiated by the local people and was subsequently taken over by the Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad (KSSP). 
• Many environmental groups like the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA), Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and Silent Valley Action Forum participated in the campaign. 

Some Key facts about the Silent Valley Movement are as follows :

The Chipko Movement

• Chipko Movement started on April 24, 1973, at Mandal of Chamoli district of Gharwal division of Uttarakhand. 
• The Chipko is one of the world-known environmental movements in India. 
• The movement was raised out of ecological destabilisation in the hills. 
• The fall in the productivity of the forest produced forced the hill dwellers to depend on the market, which became a central concern for the inhabitants. 
• Forest resource exploitation was considered the reason behind natural calamities like floods, and landslides. 
• On March 27 the decision was taken to ‘Chipko” that is ‘to hug’ the trees that were threatened by the axe and thus the Chipko Andolan (movement) was born.
• This form of protest was instrumental in driving away the private companies from felling the ash trees. 

Some Key facts about the Chipko Movement are as follows :

Bishnoi Movements

• The Bishnoi Movement in India is a famous example of an early environmental movement known for its dramatic act of tree-hugging.

• This movement was led by Amrita Devi, in which around 363 people sacrificed their lives for the protection of their forests. 

• This movement was the first of its kind to have developed the strategy of hugging or embracing the trees for their protection spontaneously. 

Some Key facts about the Bishnoi Movement are as follows :

Appiko Movements

• It is a movement inspired by the Chipko movement by the villagers of Western Ghats.
• In the Uttar Kannada region of Karnataka, the villagers of Western Ghats started the Appiko Chalewali movement during September – November 1983. 
• Here, the destruction of forests was caused by the commercial felling of trees for timber extraction.
• Natural forests of the region were felled by the contractors, which resulted in soil erosion and drying up of perennial water resources.
• In the Saklani village in Sirsi, the forest dwellers were prevented from collecting usufructs like twigs and dried branches and non-timber forest products for fuelwood, fodder, honey etc. They were denied their customary rights to these products.
• In September 1983, women and youth of the region decided to launch a movement similar to Chipko, in South India. 
• The agitation continued for 38 days, and this forced the state government to finally concede to their demands and withdraw the order for the felling of trees. 

Some Key facts about the Appiko Movement are as follows :

Narmada Bachao Andolan

• The Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) which is “Save the Narmada Movement” is a significant social movement in India.
• The goal was to oppose the construction of large dams across the Narmada River.
•  A collective effort by Adivasis (indigenous tribes), farmers, environmentalists, and human rights activists.
• The movement focuses on the Narmada River flowing through Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra.
• Sardar Sarovar Dam in Gujarat is a central point of contention.
• Reasons for Opposition were Displacement of people due to submergence of land by dam reservoirs, Concerns about inadequate rehabilitation and resettlement plans for displaced communities and Environmental impact on the Narmada River valley ecosystem.

Some Key facts about the Narmada Bachao Andolan are as follows :

Jungle Bachao Andolan

• Jungle Bachao Andolan began in the 1980s in the Singhbhum district of Bihar (presently in Jharkhand). 
• It was a movement against the government’s decision to grow commercial teak by replacing the natural Sal forests. 
• The tribal community is the most affected by this decision as it disturbs the rights and livelihood of the Adivasis of that region. 
• This movement was widely spread in states like Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha in various other forms. 

Some Key facts about the Jungle Bachao Andolan are as follows :

Also Read:

• Top 10 Environmental Movements in the World
• Narmada Bachao Andolan
• Appiko Movement

What is the first Environmental Movement?

The first seed of an environmental movement in India was the foundation in 1964 of Dasholi Gram Swarajya Sangh, a labour cooperative started by Chandi Prasad Bhatt. It was inaugurated by Sucheta Kriplani and founded on land donated by Shyma Devi.

Who is known as the father of the environmental movement in India?

Historian Ramachandra Guha calls Kumarappa, “The Green Gandhian,” portraying him as the founder of modern environmentalism in India. We also have Verrier Elwin who has written extensively on the significance of the forest in tribal life.

Who started the Chipko Movement?

The Chipko Movement started under Sunderlal Bahuguna, an eco activist, who spent his life persuading and educating the villagers to protest against the destruction of the forests and Himalayan mountains.

Who is Amrita Devi?

Amrita Devi Bishnoi first sacrificed her life by hugging a Khejri tree and preventing it from being cut down by the king’s men. Following her, 363 other villagers also sacrificed their lives to protect the Khejri trees. The Chipko movement initiated in 1973 was an inspiration by the story of Amrita Devi Bishnoi.

Who was the leaders of Narmada Bachao Andolan?

Medha Patkar with rural villagers. Narmada Bachao Andolan was initiated by Medha Patkar along with other colleagues. Medha Patkar is a graduate in social work, who moved to live among the tribals of the Narmada Valley in the mid-1980s and alerted them to the fate that awaited them with the dams.