Which one of the following is the central theme of the Chipko Movement, started by Sunderlal Bahuguna in 1973 ?

The Chipko Movement, which gained significant momentum in 1973 in the Garhwal Himalayas, was primarily a forest conservation movement [c1][t2]. Led by figures like Sunderlal Bahuguna and Chandi Prasad Bhatt, the movement was characterized by the non-violent Gandhian method of 'tree hugging' to prevent commercial loggers from felling trees [c1][t3]. The central theme was the protection of forests from rapid deforestation and commercial exploitation, as local communities relied on these forests for their livelihoods, soil stability, and water security [t3][t5]. Bahuguna famously advocated that 'Ecology is the permanent economy,' emphasizing that forests are lifelines rather than just timber resources [t5]. The movement successfully resisted deforestation in several areas and eventually led to a 15-year ban on commercial green-felling in the Himalayan region [c4][t5].

Sources

1. [1] Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 10: Indian Forest > 10.5.1. Chipko Movement > p. 169
2. [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chipko_movement
3. [3] NCERT. (2022). Contemporary India II: Textbook in Geography for Class X (Revised ed.). NCERT. > Chapter 2: Nationalism in India > Community and Conservation > p. 32