Forests of Life: Walking on as they say
Forests of Life was an effort towards spreading the message of the need for and importance of conserving our priceless forests that have existed for millennia.
From 2nd November, we explored stories revolving
around its birth and evolution over millions of years, its role in sustaining
lives and above all, the unique relationship that human beings and forests have
mutually developed towards each another. We talk of -
1. Forests of Life: Entering a bustling corridor,
the visitors were welcomed by a series of panels that begin with the story of
life, role of various organisms – unsung heroes in a way – in sustaining lives.
From this quick introduction to forests and its many critical organisms, we
moved to the next section with the Forest Map of India, first drawn
comprehensively by Champion and Seth and now imagined using various layers of
information. This is followed by celebrating the forests of Karnataka and
finally, the section concludes with a mesmerising paper cut art by one
of our interns, depicting various layers of the forest.
2. Forests of Wonder: As we step away, videos
taken by our interns accompanies a burst of vivid smells. Try and identify
these forest smells as you walk through intern stories celebrating this wonder
of nature called forests. Pause for a few moments at the Plant and Animal maps,
imagined through Artificial Intelligence by an intern and wonder at the beauty
of our vast ecological wonderland that is India. Step away from the forest of
wonders with mesmerising images of Himalayan forests.
3. Forests of Coexistence: Our forests have
long been burdened under the pulls and pushes of infinite stakeholders. Often,
the stakeholders who matter are left off any dialogue. But in a true forest of
coexistence, communities have learnt to live under the shade of the benevolent
tree and has thrived under its shade. Call it the mother tree or the forests
secret language, communities acknowledge that somewhere deep below the ground,
the forest talks about its children and takes care of them.
4. Forests of Pastoralism: Coexistence can
never be best exemplified unless one brings pastoralists into a discussion.
Traversing endless distances, through deep forests and open grasslands,
collecting stories and crafting tales, pastoralists were the living breathing
nervous system of a once vast disconnected land. Bringing life sustaining
dairy, enriching the soil by camping in agricultural fields, handing medicinal
herbs, pastoralists have continued to play a critical part in ensuring the
survival of domesticate biodiversity. Persecution however has accompanied many
societies since the colonial powers began putting a stranglehold around a
traumatised land, still recovering from the repercussions of the mutiny of
1857. We pay our homage to the pastoralists by bringing out stories of despair,
hope and coexistence.
5. Forests of the Wild: India’s wildlife can
be defined in a few words – Unbelievably resilient and incredibly fragile – A
strange dilemma now exists. Wildlife benefits from protection but the area that
can be reasonably protected is small. Also, does protection mean eviction of
indigenous communities when they have lived in symbiosis for millennia. On the
other hand, wild animals’ journey from protected to non-protected landscapes
often. How do we ensure their protection. Is removing human presence, however
miniscule more important than protecting the critical corridors that connect
the wild. Forests of the Wild asks these questions to our young visitors.
6. Forests
of Threat, of Fragility and at Crossroads: The forests of India are facing
a multitude of threats, leading to significant conflicts and challenges for
wildlife conservation. Over the past years, numerous distressing incidents have
unfolded, highlighting the perilous situation for the country's natural
habitats and the creatures that inhabit them. Instances such as the tragic
death of a terrified elephant calf, engulfed in a fireball and pursued by an
angry mob of villagers, have brought to light the dire circumstances faced by
wildlife. Furthermore, the alarming statistics reveal the extent of the crisis.
Each year, hundreds of leopards perish, primarily due to unnatural, man-made
causes. In addition to these heartbreaking losses, the relentless destruction
of vital forest lands continues unabated. Furthermore, the encroachment on
indigenous communities' lands threatens some of the last pristine forests in
India. The challenges faced by forest rangers are also cause for concern, with
162 of them losing their lives from 2012 to 2017 while guarding India's
forests, a staggering three times more than the second-placed Democratic
Republic of Congo. Adding to these ongoing threats, new data from recent years
reveals a concerning trend. The loss of wildlife and forest habitats continues,
with increasing encroachments, poaching, and habitat destruction posing
significant risks to the survival of India's diverse flora and fauna. These
challenges underscore the urgent need for comprehensive and effective
conservation efforts to safeguard India's precious natural heritage for future
generations.
1. Forests
as Networks: The story of our forests is more than its
anthropogenic benefits. When in the Western Ghats, in the midst of never-ending
sholas and floating grasslands, or in the highlands of Central India where
giant Sal trees tower above all, or in the Himalayas where the deodar is
beloved as the ‘Tree of the Gods’, forests continue to be the givers of life, a
reminder of the critical role that earth system processes play in ameliorating
the world we live in. Visitors walked through a set of panels exploring our
intricate relation with all things natural, considering that we ourselves form
but a minor yet pre-eminent part of the wonder that nature is.
2. Forests of Action and Hope: From sacred forests to wooded groves in remote villages, within industrial complexes, government institutes and universities, in defence land and temple premises, from parks and heritage trees in cities to complete wildlands – forests, big or small, have a thread in common. Distinct and mutually independent lands, they are repositories of unique biodiversity, and often a signature remnant of ancient landscapes that once thrived in India. We walk through such stories of action as individuals and groups come together to protect our natural heritage, tending and responding against growing threats and with the hope that forests will outlive the severe trauma currently under process across our planets.
For, if forests had a voice, they would ask us
to take it easy and revisit our current lifestyles rather than poisoning our
very life sources. Rivers, forests or mountains, we are here to tell stories.
And you, you are here to create more such possibilities.
