Major Environmental Movements in India 

Bishnoi Movement „ This movement was started by sage Sombaji around 1700 AD against deforestation. After that Amrita Devi forwarded the movement. „ 363 people from the Bishnoi community were killed in the protest. „ When the king of this region came to know the protest and killing then he rushed to the village and apologized, and declared the region as protected area.

 Chipko Movement „ It was launched from Gopeshwar in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand in 1973. „ The movement was to prevent illegal cutting of trees in the Himalayan region (Uttarakhand). „ The name of the movement comes from the word ‘embrace’, as the villagers hugged the trees, and prevented it from falling. „ Sunderlal Bahuguna and Chandi Prasad Bhatt were the leaders of this movement. 

Silent Valley Movement „ Silent Valley is situated in Palghat district in Kundali hills and contains India’s last substantial stretch of tropical evergreen forest. „ The environmentalists and the local people strongly objected to the hydel power project being set up here in 1973. „ Under pressure, the government had to declare it the national reserve forests in 1985.

 Appiko Movement „ In 1983, on the lines of the Chipko Movement, Pandurang Hegde launched a movement which is come to known as the Appiko Movement in Karnataka. „ Its main objectives were afforestation as well as development, conservation and proper utilization of forests in the best manner. „ The meaning of “appiko” is to express one’s affection for a tree by embracing it.

 Jungle Bachao Andola „ The tribal community of Singhbhum district of Jharkhand agitated against the forest policy of the Government in 1982. „ The Government wanted to replace the natural soil, forests with the high-priced teak. „ Many environmentalists refer to this movement as “Greed Game Political Populism”.

 Narmada Bachao Movement „ The environmentalists and the local people started protest against the building of Dams on the Narmada for the production of hydro-electricity since 1985 which was popularly known as Narmada Bachao Aandolan. „ Medha Patkar has been the leader of this aandolan who got support from the Arundhati Roy, Baba Amte and Aamir Khan. 

Tehri Dam Conflict „ This movement led by Sunderlal Bahuguna, was started by the local people around 1980s and 1990s because the dam project would be constructed in the seismic sensitive region and it causes submergence of forest areas along with Tehri town. „ Despite the protest, the construction of the dam is being carried out.