Short Note on Appiko Movement

The undulation effect of Chipko Movement was evident in the Uttar Kannada region of Karnataka (Uttara Kannada and Shimoga districts of Karnataka State) situated in the Western Ghats by starting Appiko Movement in 1983. The Appiko Movement was locally known as “Appiko Chaluvali”. It can be said that Appiko movement is the southern edition of the Chipko movement. The Appikos (Chipko of the Western Ghats) were protesting against the polyfibre industry in their region. The contractors targeted to grow timber for commercial purposes cleared the natural forests impacting water resources, silting and soil erosion. The forest department was converting the tropical forests into monoculture of teak and eucalyptus plantations. Sunderlal Bahuguna eminent activist who was invited to provide direction to the movement. This led the youth and women to replicate Chipko Movement and they walked five miles to nearby forests and hugged trees to stop the axe-men from felling of trees. It was a 38 days long protest and Government had to withdraw orders to cut trees. The Appiko movement used various techniques to raise awareness such as walking on foot in the interior forests, photograph demonstrations, folk dances, street dramas etc.

In November, 1983, this movement reached Nilgod (Siddapur Taluka) where 300 people demanded ban on falling of trees. The Appikos exposed the role of politicians and forest department in permitting the contractors to pursue commercialization. The Parisar Samrakshana Kendra (Environmental Conservation Centre) fulfilled objectives like: to protect existing forest and prevent deforestation, regeneration of trees, plantation of new trees, conservation of natural resources, and create awareness. The Appiko movement was successful in protecting medicinal trees, bamboo trees and the natural forest cover. The movement became a success. The current status of the project is – stopped.

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