Jammu’s Chipko moment: protest against a plan to chop trees in Raika

Context

In order to protest against plan to chop 38,000 trees in Raika forests, green activities started a movement similar to Chipko movement. The movement was led by Climate Front, a student-led environment awareness organization. 

What is the matter?

• The protesters were rallying against the construction of a new High Court campus that would reportedly result in the cutting down of as many as 38,006 trees in the eco-sensitive Raika-Bahu area.
• The proposed construction site is situated within Bahu Conservation Reserve and a part of it also falls under the Ramnagar Wildlife Sanctuary
• Young environmentalists marked their protest against this deforestation plan by hugging trees in Raika village and showed solidarity for Jammu’s Chipko moment.
• Jammu comes under the seismic zone of lV and V. This step of chopping over 38,000 trees would invite massive calamities. 

About RaikaBahu forest region

• Raika-Bahu is an eco-sensitive area under the Bahu Conservation Reserve in Jammu.
• It is home to species like rock pigeon, Asian koel, barn owl, red-vented bulbul, jackal, wild boar and rhesus monkey. 
• The reserve was established in 1981.
• It is located just 3.75 km from Ramnagar Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Raika-Bahu forest area is situated in the middle of the reserve along river Tawi.
• It also supports the Gujjar community which rears goats, cows and buffaloes.