Meera and Radhika were on a trip to Mussoorie. They set out on a short trekking on the hills. They were closely watching the flora and fauna in the area. They felt that the area has sufficient biodiversity. This was possible because the forests had remained safe.

There was no visible sign of cutting of trees. Meera said with pride to Radhika, "do you know women have played a prominent role in the protection of forests? Without their brave acts, the situation would have been different and miserable."

Name two incidents from history when women environmentalists saved the trees from falling by greedy and powerful people.

(a) Bishnoi movement:

Amrita Devi, a female villager could not bear the destruction of both her faith and the village’s sacred trees. She hugged the trees and encouraged others to do the same. 363 Bishnoi villagers were killed in this movement. The Bishnoi tree martyrs were influenced by the teachings of Guru Maharaj Jambaji, who founded the Bishnoi faith in 1485 and set forth principles forbidding harm to trees and animals.

(b) Chipko movement:

Gaura Devi, Sudesh Devi Bacchi device of Advani village of Tehri-Garhwal tied the sacred thread around trunks of trees and they hugged the trees. This movement was called ‘Chipko Movement’ or ‘hug the tree movement’. The main demand of the people in these protests was that the benefits of the forest should go to local people.