Question

"What was Chipko Andolan" ? How did this Andolan ultimately benefit the local people and the environment ?

Answer 1

Chipko movement ("Hug the Trees Movement") is one of the movements in India which became a turning point in forest conservation efforts in India. This movement originated in Reni village of Garhwal. To stop the contractor from falling of trees women of the village clasped to the trunk of the tree.
Its benefits were:

(a) Existing forest cover was protected, reducing landslides and soil erosion. It actually protected environment and maintained ecological balance.

(b) It forced the government to rethink their priorities in the use of forest produce and include the local people in forest management.