Self-driven

Self-driven

Community-Based Disaster Management (CBDM) has been practiced for generations. Communities have relied on their inherent coping mechanisms, which they have developed over t

Community-Based Disaster Management (CBDM) has been practiced for generations. Communities have relied on their inherent coping mechanisms, which they have developed over time to ensure survival.

These coping strategies are rooted in people's observations of their surroundings, including environmental changes and their impacts. Through these observations, communities have adapted their actions to coexist more effectively with nature.

The following example from modern times demonstrates how a community has learned from its environment and taken proactive measures to safeguard it, thereby reducing disaster risks (FAO).

Chipko: from tree hugging to satellite images

The Uttaranchal region, consisting of Himalayan districts in northern India, underwent a major road development initiative in the late 1960s. This project created employment opportunities for local residents and facilitated greater connectivity with the outside world. It also enabled the inflow of new technologies and materials while providing an avenue for monetizing natural resources like timber. Large tracts of forest land were leased to contractors for logging, with local workers employed in the felling operations. However, vast slopes above the road level were completely stripped of trees. While the economy initially thrived, little attention was paid to the environmental consequences of extensive deforestation. The removal of trees weakened the forest soil, and the intensity of rainwater runoff carrying debris and stones increased significantly.

On a monsoon night in 1970, the Alaknanda River, which flows through the region, experienced a catastrophic flood. The entire village of Belakuchi was wiped out by the raging waters, along with several buses carrying tourists. The flood impacted an area spanning

400 kilometers, destroying five major bridges, killing hundreds of livestock, and causing property losses worth millions of rupees. Eyewitnesses recall the terrifying sight of the river appearing to be "on fire," as the powerful currents carried massive boulders that struck against each other, creating loud, thunderous noises and emitting bright sparks.

The devastation extended to the plains as well. The flash flood not only swept away everything in its path but also left the land buried under silt and large rocks. Major canal networks became clogged, and the prolonged desilting process resulted in reduced irrigation, leading to a sharp decline in agricultural output in downstream areas that year. Local communities quickly realized that the disappearance of forests would not only lead to economic struggles and increased threats from wildlife like man- eating tigers but also bring more severe challenges in the form of floods, landslides, and the drying up of once-

perennial streams.

The response was instinctive and straightforward— Chipko, meaning "hug the trees." This was the method chosen by the local community to protect their forests from timber contractors. A major milestone in the movement occurred on March 26, 1974, when 27 women from Reni village in Chamoli district, led by Gaura Devi,

a 50-year-old illiterate woman, physically embraced 2,451 trees in the Reni forest to prevent them from being cut down. The women of Reni played a crucial and dramatic role in resisting deforestation, marking a turning point in the Chipko movement.

It gained much acclaim for being a totally community led initiative, without any involvement of outside agencies, not even NGOs. Tree felling has since been totally controlled, and afforestation drives have yielded some positive results in terms of regeneration of forests on the denuded slopes. However, more important than the achievements of the programme; are its means.

There are two highlighting features of this aspect:

Van Panchayats (forest governing councils) are an innovative institutional instrument constituted on the pattern of the Panchayats or the rural local governments. The elected Van Panchayat is responsible for the maintenance of the village forestland. It monitors and controls all activities in the forest, including woodcutting and even grazing of cattle. An interesting fact is that over the years, the Van Panchayats have come to be totally dominated by women. This, they feel is very logical since the hardships of environmental degradation affect women the most since women are responsible for getting firewood for cooking, fetching drinking water from faraway sources, and grazing the animals.

The Dasholi Gram Swarajya Mandal (DGSM) emerged as a resilient community-based organization following the Chipko movement. Over time, it has played a crucial role in not only fostering forest regeneration efforts but also promoting local

entrepreneurship rooted in sustainable resource utilization. Notably, DGSM, which is entirely composed of local villagers, has been actively tracking the progress of its afforestation initiatives using satellite imagery and remote sensing technology facilitated by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The organization advocates for disaster prevention through sustainable development and conducts awareness campaigns on the subject. Additionally, DGSM serves as the first line of response during local disasters, including landslides, earthquakes, and forest fires.

These coping strategies are rooted in people's observations of their surroundings, including environmental changes and their impacts. Through these observations, communities have adapted their actions to coexist more effectively with nature.

The following example from modern times demonstrates how a community has learned from its environment and taken proactive measures to safeguard it, thereby reducing disaster risks (FAO).

Chipko: from tree hugging to satellite images

The Uttaranchal region, consisting of Himalayan districts in northern India, underwent a major road development initiative in the late 1960s. This project created employment opportunities for local residents and facilitated greater connectivity with the outside world. It also enabled the inflow of new technologies and materials while providing an avenue for monetizing natural resources like timber. Large tracts of forest land were leased to contractors for logging, with local workers employed in the felling operations. However, vast slopes above the road level were completely stripped of trees. While the economy initially thrived, little attention was paid to the environmental consequences of extensive deforestation. The removal of trees weakened the forest soil, and the intensity of rainwater runoff carrying debris and stones increased significantly.

On a monsoon night in 1970, the Alaknanda River, which flows through the region, experienced a catastrophic flood. The entire village of Belakuchi was wiped out by the raging waters, along with several buses carrying tourists. The flood impacted an area spanning

400 kilometers, destroying five major bridges, killing hundreds of livestock, and causing property losses worth millions of rupees. Eyewitnesses recall the terrifying sight of the river appearing to be "on fire," as the powerful currents carried massive boulders that struck against each other, creating loud, thunderous noises and emitting bright sparks.

The devastation extended to the plains as well. The flash flood not only swept away everything in its path but also left the land buried under silt and large rocks. Major canal networks became clogged, and the prolonged desilting process resulted in reduced irrigation, leading to a sharp decline in agricultural output in downstream areas that year. Local communities quickly realized that the disappearance of forests would not only lead to economic struggles and increased threats from wildlife like man- eating tigers but also bring more severe challenges in the form of floods, landslides, and the drying up of once-

perennial streams.

The response was instinctive and straightforward— Chipko, meaning "hug the trees." This was the method chosen by the local community to protect their forests from timber contractors. A major milestone in the movement occurred on March 26, 1974, when 27 women from Reni village in Chamoli district, led by Gaura Devi,

a 50-year-old illiterate woman, physically embraced 2,451 trees in the Reni forest to prevent them from being cut down. The women of Reni played a crucial and dramatic role in resisting deforestation, marking a turning point in the Chipko movement.

It gained much acclaim for being a totally community led initiative, without any involvement of outside agencies, not even NGOs. Tree felling has since been totally controlled, and afforestation drives have yielded some positive results in terms of regeneration of forests on the denuded slopes. However, more important than the achievements of the programme; are its means.

There are two highlighting features of this aspect:

Van Panchayats (forest governing councils) are an innovative institutional instrument constituted on the pattern of the Panchayats or the rural local governments. The elected Van Panchayat is responsible for the maintenance of the village forestland. It monitors and controls all activities in the forest, including woodcutting and even grazing of cattle. An interesting fact is that over the years, the Van Panchayats have come to be totally dominated by women. This, they feel is very logical since the hardships of environmental degradation affect women the most since women are responsible for getting firewood for cooking, fetching drinking

water from faraway sources, and grazing the animals.

The Dasholi Gram Swarajya Mandal (DGSM) emerged as a resilient community-based organization following the Chipko movement. Over time, it has played a crucial role in not only fostering forest regeneration efforts but also promoting local

entrepreneurship rooted in sustainable resource utilization. Notably, DGSM, which is entirely composed of local villagers, has been actively tracking the progress of its afforestation initiatives using satellite imagery and remote sensing technology facilitated by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The organization advocates for disaster prevention through sustainable development and conducts awareness campaigns on the subject. Additionally, DGSM serves as the first line of response during local disasters, including landslides, earthquakes, and forest fires.