Villagers in Odisha’s Gajapati district ensure forest preservation amid fire threat with onset of summer

Residents of Sanakhani village under Mohana block in Gajapati district have remained committed to the preservation of their forested land for over the last 30 years.

Approximately, 150 hectares of woodland have flourished under the vigilant protection of the villagers, who have taken it upon themselves to defend against any potential environmental threat.

With the onset of summer, the looming threat of forest fires has prompted them to take precautions such as removing dry leaves from around tree bases. With sticks in their hands, they have been keeping a vigil for the protection of the forest in their areas for 24x7 hours.

A women’s group within the village, operating as part of the local Forest Protection Committee, actively campaigns to raise awareness on the importance of preventing tree cutting and protecting the environment from fire hazards. Their initiatives have not gone unnoticed, as those efforts have attracted recognition and rewards from the Forest Department of Odisha government.

The effort by the villagers to protect their forest resources has been noted as a significant cultural practice, illustrating the unified commitment of the community.

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“Forest is our lifeline. We can’t live without forests. Hence, we have been protecting the forest for the last 30 years. We are ensuring that the forest doesn’t get destroyed due to fire,” said Balakrushna Malick, President of the Forest Protection Committee of Sanakhani village.

“We are even remaining awake at night to keep a vigil on the forest for its protection. We are ensuring no damage to the forest, the animals and the birds. The government has recognized our effort by announcing our village as an ideal village,” said Sahadeb Mallick, a resident of Sanakhani.