What is deforestation? Explain importance of people's participation in Forest conservation with reference to Amrita Devi Bishnoi's case study.

Explanation

Removal, decrease or deterioration of forested area is called deforestation. Deforestation has been going on since the beginning of civilization. The decline has been maximum in the tropics (more than 40%) and minimum in temperate regions (1% or less).
People's participation has a long history in India. In 1731, the King of Jodhpur in Rajasthan asked one of his ministers to arrange wood for constructing a new palace. The minister and workers went to a forest near a village, inhabited by Bishnois, to cut down trees. The Bishnoi community is known for its peaceful co-existence with nature. The effort to cut down trees! the King was thwarted by the Bishnois. A Bishnoi woman Amrita Devi showed exemplary courage by hugging a tree and daring King's men to cut her first before cutting the tree. The tree mattered much more to her than her own life. Sadly, the King's men did not heed to her! pleas, and cut down the tree along with Amritha Devi. Her three daughters and hundreds of other Bishnois followed her, and thus lost their lives saving trees. Nowhere in history do we find a commitment of this magnitude when human beings sacrificed their lives for the cause of the environment. The Government of India has recently instituted the Amrita Devi Bishnoi Wildlife Protection Award for individuals or communities from rural area that have shown extraordinary courage and dedication in protecting wildlife.