Youth-Led Forest Protection in Gojapadara, Odisha

Introduction Gojapadara, a leading village of Sindurghati Gram Panchayat in the Kashipur block of Rayagada district, has emerged as a beacon of community-led forest conservation. The youth of this village have taken remarkable steps to protect their forest and biodiversity, inspiring nearby villages to follow suit. Historical Background Elders recalls that many years ago, a group of seven committed youths took the initiative to safeguard their forest. They worked closely with the forest department and created fire lines along the forest boundary under the guidance of the forest guard. However, after the initial forest project work, departmental focus waned. With little oversight, nearby villagers began encroaching upon forest land and felling large trees, leading to visible forest degradation. Recognizing the danger, the community convened a meeting. During this, villagers intercepted individuals cutting trees and confiscated their axes. Tensions rose as the accused individuals’ families and neighbors gathered, creating a law-and-order situation. The conflict was resolved through dialogue led by village elders and intellectuals, who reminded everyone of the forest’s vital role in providing green leaves, jhuna, siali leaves, mahua, tola, mushrooms, firewood, herbal medicines, amla, mangoes, brooms, berries, kendu, and clustered apples. The confrontation turned into consensus as the villagers reaffirmed their commitment to protect the forest. Revival through Youth Mobilization In 2022, Living Farms began facilitating meetings in villages like Gojapadara, Kodiguda, Kumakhal, and Sindurghati. They formed and strengthened youth groups. Gojapadara alone formed a 10-member youth group, comprising 7 males and 3 females. Kodiguda and Gojapadara together have 16 enthusiastic members (9 male, 7 female), all actively involved in forest protection and awareness generation. Crisis and Collective Action On March 21st (Friday), at around 2 PM, during a forest discussion in Aliguna village with Lalita (area Community Mobilizer), cluster coordinator Satya and I received an urgent call from CM Sanjeet. He reported that a fire had broken out in the Gojapadara forest. We rushed to the site and joined the youths to help douse the fire. The forest fire affected approximately 5 hectares of the 25-hectare CFR (Community Forest Rights) land titled to Gojapadara. The fire, allegedly caused by unknown miscreants, spread rapidly. At the time, most male youth members were working as wage laborers far from the village. The female members immediately informed the youth after learning about the fire. The youths returned in haste and, along with the community, worked for nearly three hours, using branches and by creating fresh fire lines to extinguish the flames. Their efforts, determination, and swift action prevented a much larger disaster. The incident not only displayed the youth’s energy and commitment but also underscored the importance of building strong community institutions around natural resource management. Their efforts helped preserve vital biodiversity and traditional forest resources that sustain local livelihoods. The Gojapadara story is a powerful example of youth-led environmental stewardship. With sustained facilitation by organizations like Living Farms and active involvement of local leadership, this village has set an example for others to emulate. Investing in and supporting such grassroots action can be key to long-term ecological and social resilience.