The Story Of Dehing-Patkai - How A Digital, Youth-Led Movement Saved A Pristine Rainforest In Assam From Mining

Protect Dehing Patkai Movement. Image by AI.

In the heart of Assam lies a stretch of extremely beautiful and highly biodiverse rainforest landscape called the Dehing Patkai. Its name derives from the Dehing River flowing through the region and the Patkai Hills bordering it. In 2020, this landscape was part of a major controversy. When India was going through a COVID-19 lockdown, India's National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) approved a coal mining project in the Dehing Patkai Elephant Reserve, part of the Dehing Patkai landscape. If executed, the project would have permanently damaged the pristine rainforest in the region and killed many animals in the process. However, the news of this proposed project became a spark for a massive protest, primarily youth-led, and ended in halting the project's implementation. Another major victory for the protesters came when the Assam Government declared the formation of the Dehing Patkai National Park in the area, providing stronger legal protection to the rainforest. It was one of the biggest victories of people-led, community-organised mass protests against environmental destruction due to mining projects in India.

Background

A male hoolock gibbon, an endangered primate found in Dehing Patkai. Image credit: Timothy A. Gonsalves via Wikimedia Commons

Prior to the formation of the Dehing Patkai National Park, the landscape was protected as an elephant reserve and a wildlife sanctuary. Over the years, biodiversity surveys have established the presence of six species of primates, six species of wild cats, large herbivores like elephants and gaurs, several species of ungulates, over 300 species of birds, and much more in the Dehing Patkai landscape. A number of ethnic groups also inhabit the region. Thus, the Dehing Patkai is truly invaluable to India.

A signboard about the Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary, now part of a larger national park. Image credit: পৰশমণি বড়া via Wikimedia Commons.

However, in April 2020, a decision by India's National Board for Wildlife (NBWL), a government organisation, shocked everyone. It approved coal mining in the North Eastern Coalfields in the Saleki Proposed Reserve Forest (PRF), part of the Elephant Reserve. When an environmental activist filed an RTI related to coal mining in the area, it revealed that such activities were already going on in the area illegally, and nearly 39% of the Dehing Patkai was suffering from mining activities since 2003 before the approval by NBWL.

All such information enraged concerned locals of Assam, who launched a protest against the NBWL decision. The protest drew support beyond expectations and forced a change in the government's attitude to Dehing Patkai.

The Dehing Patkai Protest

Protect Dehing Patkai Movement. Image by AI.

One of the hallmarks of the Dehing Patkai Movement was that students led it. The All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) was a prominent leader of the protest. Students from Guwahati, Tezpur, and Dibrugarh Universities united for the movement.

Also, it was a very successful digital movement, as word of the protest spread virally across social media channels at a time when physical gatherings were restricted due to the COVID-19 lockdown. Hashtags like #SaveDehingPatkai became very popular across social media. Creative ideas to spread the word overflowed the internet in the forms of songs, poetry, artwork, and more.

Not only the students, but civil society and prominent cultural icons in Assam, such as musicians, writers, and filmmakers, supported the Dehing Patkai Movement.

Protests also reached beyond Assam, and words of support for the protesters poured in from across India.

The Outcome

• Temporary Halt of Mining: In June 2020, under massive public pressure, North Eastern Coalfields (NEC), Coal India Limited suspended all mining operations in and around the Dehing Patkai Elephant Reserve.

• Government Reconsideration: The Assam government and the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) re-examined the earlier approval for coal mining.

• Increased Awareness: The movement brought national and global attention to the ecological importance of Dehing Patkai, often called the “Amazon of the East.”

• Cultural Mobilization: The protest unified students, activists, and artists. Campaigns like #SaveDehingPatkai became symbols of youth-led environmental activism in Northeast India.

• Legal and Protective Measures: In June 2021, the Assam government upgraded Dehing Patkai from a Wildlife Sanctuary to a National Park — providing stronger protection against mining and encroachment. It became the 7th National Park of Assam.

Dehing Patkai, is the only rainforest in Assam. Image credit: Trideep Dutta Photography via Wikimedia Commons.

The Dehing Patkai Protest was more than just a regional environmental campaign; it was a symbol of ecological consciousness in modern India. However, the fight to save the Dehing Patkai is not over yet. A recent report published in The Assam Tribune shows that illegal coal mining continues to denude the Dehing Patkai Landscape, and even the national park is not spared. The movement, therefore, needs to continue till the threat is completely and permanently eradicated.

The Chipko Andolan Of India - The Rise Of The People To Protect The Environment

Chipko Andolan.

In the 1970s, brave villagers, especially women, in the Himalayas of India hugged trees to prevent them from being chopped off by commercial loggers. The movement came to be known as the "Chipko Andolan," where "chipko" means "to hug" or "to cling to." It began in the early 1970s in the Himalayan region of Uttarakhand (then part of Uttar Pradesh) and soon became a symbol of people's struggle to protect forests, the environment, and their livelihood.

Background Of The Movement

Loggers cutting wood. Image by AI.

The Himalayan forests have always been crucial for the survival of local communities. They provide timber, fuel, fodder, and protected soil and water resources. However, when commercial loggers wiped out these forests across vast areas, it damaged the region's ecosystem and triggered a series of landslides, floods, and economic losses to the villagers who depended on forests for their daily needs. Upon realising what was happening, the locals rose up to protest, which gave birth to the Chipko Andolan.

Illustration depicting the Khejarli massacre led by Amrita Devi Bishnoi. Image credit: Rameshchaudhari via Wikimedia Commons.

It is said that the Khejarli Sacrifice of 1730 by the Bishnois, led by Amrita Devi, inspired the Chipko Andolan. In this event, 363 Bishnoi villagers gave their lives while hugging trees to save them from being cut by the men of the local ruler.

Beginning Of The Movement

The British normalised the "commodification" of India's forests during their long rule in India. Post-independence, local authorities continued the practice. They allocated blocks of forest in the Himalayas to commercial loggers from the plains. They came with their own set of workers to carry out logging operations, clear forests, and carry away the wood, causing only losses to the locals. Dissent was gradually growing among the locals, with small protests inspiring bigger ones.

Chandi Prasad Bhatt. Image credit: Tikeswar1111via Wikimedia Commons.

The Chipko Movement took root in 1973 in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand (then part of Uttar Pradesh). When commercial loggers arrived in the village of Gopeshwar to cut trees, the villagers confronted the local authorities and loggers, shouted slogans, and beat drums, forcing the loggers to retreat. The protest was backed by a social worker, Chandi Prasad Bhatt, and his organisation, the Dashauli Gram Swarajya Sangh (DGSS). Soon, the movement spread to nearby villages where commercial logging was sanctioned by the government, and success came as the loggers were forced to give up.

Spread Of The Chipko Andolan

The participants of the first all-woman Chipko action at Reni village in 1974, reassembled thirty years later in 2004. Image credit: Ceti at via Wikimedia Commons.

The first major movement of the Chipko Andolan that brought it to the national platform happened on March 25, 1974. On this day, the authorities tricked the local men and DGSS workers into going to a site away from the village of Reni for compensation payment. Taking advantage of their absence, the loggers arrived in Reni to cut the trees. However, they had no idea that the women of the village were no less than the men. Led by a local female leader named Gaura Devi, the women of Reni stormed out of their homes and protested by hugging the trees. The loggers tried to abuse them and threaten them, but the bold women were not to be stopped that day. 

The movement now spread like wildfire. Village after village rose in rebellion against commercial logging in the Himalayas. In 1980, the then Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, recognising the Chipko Andolan, implemented a 15-year ban on tree felling in the Himalayan region. 

The President, Pratibha Devisingh Patil, presents the Padma Vibhushan Award to Sunderlal Bahuguna. Image credit: President's Secretariat (GODL-India), GODL-India via Wikimedia Commons. 

During this time, another prominent leader of the Chipko movement was Sundarlal Bahuguna. He took the message beyond Uttarakhand. He launched a foot march, moving across the Himalayas from 1981 to 1983, spreading word about Chipko. 

Role of Women In The Chipko Movement

Women played a central role in the Chipko Andolan. Since they were most affected by forest depletion—having to fetch firewood, water, and fodder from long distances—they became the strongest defenders of forests. Leaders like Gaura Devi became the face of this grassroots movement, symbolizing the power of women in environmental protection.

Objectives Of The Chipko Andolan

Chipko Andolan. Image by AI.

The main objectives of the Chipko Andolan were:

• To stop large-scale commercial logging and deforestation.
• To protect the environment and prevent natural disasters caused by deforestation.
• To safeguard the rights of local communities over forest resources.
• To promote sustainable development and conservation of nature.

Achievements Of The Chipko Andolan

The Chipko Movement continues to inspire environmental protests today. Citizen at Chipko Andolan in protest of RFD Project of Pune. Image credit: Samruddhi2897 via Wikimedia Commons.

The Chipko Andolan was highly successful in drawing attention to environmental issues in India. Some of its major achievements were:

• In 1980, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi banned the cutting of green trees in the Himalayan forests for 15 years.
• It led to the spread of similar forest conservation movements in other parts of India.
• It created global awareness about the link between deforestation and ecological imbalance.
• It empowered rural communities, especially women, to take an active role in protecting the environment.

The Chipko Andolan remains one of the most inspiring chapters in India's environmental history. Today, as the world faces the challenges of deforestation, climate change, and environmental degradation, the lessons of the Chipko Andolan remain more relevant than ever. It teaches us that protecting the environment is not only a responsibility of governments but also of every individual.

New Year Brings New Joy : Now India Is Home To Three Pangolin Species

India now has not two but three pangolin species residing in the country. They are the Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata), Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla), and the most recently discovered and described Indo-Burmese pangolin (Manis indo-burmanica).

Following a research study by the Zoological Society of India (ZSI) scientist Mukesh Thakur and colleagues, it was found that the Indo-Burmese pangolin had diverged from the Chinese pangolin around 3.4 million years back during the Pliocene and Pleistocene epochs. The divergence was triggered by geo-climatic changes in the Indo-Burmese region.

Indian pangolin. Image credit: USAID Asia. Ansar Khan / Life Line for the Nature Society via Flickr.com.

Range In India

Indian pangolin: It is found throughout the country except for the Himalayas, the Thar desert, and northeast India.

Chinese pangolin: It is found in Northeast India and the Eastern Himalayan region.

Indo-Burmese pangolin: It resides primarily in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. Further studies need to be conducted on its distribution.

Range Beyond India

Indian pangolin: Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan

Chinese pangolin: Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, China, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand, Hong Kong

Indo-Burmese pangolin: Possibly Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar

A Chinese pangolin. Image credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters via Wikimedia Commons.

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IUCN Red List Status

Indian pangolin: Endangeredn

Chinese pangolin: Critically Endangered

Indo-Burmese pangolin: Yet to be assessed

Table showing some important facts related to pangolin species found in India.

What Are Pangolins?

Pangolins roll themselves into a ball for defense. Image credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters via Wikimedia Commons

Pangolins, also called scaly anteaters, are mammals with a thick armour of keratin scales covering the dorsal part of their bodies. These animals live in tree hollows or burrows dug in the ground and are highly nocturnal. They are found in a wide variety of habitats including forests, grasslands, shrublands, etc. They feed almost exclusively on ants and termites. According to WWF, a pangolin can consume about 20,000 ants per day or 70 million ants a year. Thus, they help keep the ant population under control. The name pangolin is derived from the Malay word penggulung, which means "roller." It refers to their behaviour of rolling into a ball when threatened to expose only their thick, scaly armour and protect their softer underparts. They are slow breeders, producing only around one to three offspring a year, making their populations vulnerable to numerous threats.

Threats To Pangolins

Illegally traded bag of pangolin scales caught by authorities. Image credit: D’Cruze N, Singh B, Mookerjee A, Harrington LA, Macdonald DW (2018) via Wikimedia Commons.

At present, the biggest threat to all pangolin species is poaching for illegal wildlife threat. The scales of pangolin are used to prepare traditional medicines in China and some Southeast Asian nations. The scales are ground and pulverised and are used as an ingredient in such medicines. However, scientists have proven that there is no scientific basis for such usage because the scales are made of keratin, the same material present in our hair and nails. Pangolins are also poached for their meat.

Laws and regulations, both in India, like the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 and globally, like the CITES rules, protect pangolins from hunting. However, due to the high demand for pangolins in the black market, stopping the poaching of this species has become difficult.

Pangolins in an illegal market in Myanmar. Image credit: Dan Bennett via Wikimedia Commons.

Thus, pangolins are sadly now the most illegally trafficked mammal on Earth. As per TRAFFIC-India, over 6,000 pangolins were poached in the country between 2009 and 2017. It is believed to be an underestimated figure as a large number of cases of pangolin killing and trafficking go undetected.

In addition to poaching, habitat loss also threatens these animals all across their range.

Pangolin Research And Conservation Achievements In India

An Indian pangolin entering its burrow. Image credit: Madhusudan Katti via Flickr.com.

Forest departments, conservation NGOs, and local communities across India are working together to resolve the conservation crisis faced by pangolins in the country.

One of the pioneering studies is being led by the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department in association with the NGO Wildlife Conservation Trust (WCT-India). They have successfully rehabilitated 15 pangolins rescued from smugglers and rehabilitated them in the wild with the help of sniffer dogs. The dogs, trained at recognising pangolin odour, helped the conservation team identify pangolin burrows. The team then used camera traps to understand if the burrows were empty or occupied by pangolins or other wildlife. Those burrows that had no occupants were used as new homes for the rescued pangolins. These pangolins were fitted with radio tags to record their movements and then released in the burrows. The good news is that 13 rehabilitated females have already produced offspring after mating with wild males.

Last year, members of the Tangkhul Naga tribe in three Manipur districts adopted a resolution to stop pangolin hunting and protect the species instead. Their decision resulted from the efforts made by the Wildlife Trust of India to conserve Chinese pangolins in the Northeast, where hunting is still quite a popular activity despite the laws banning wildlife hunting. Such conservation initiatives give hope to India's pangolin species.