Appiko Movement History Background, Objective and Causes

The Appiko Movement stands as a forest-based environmental movement in India, specifically occurring in the Uttara Kanada district of Karnataka within the Western Ghats region. The movement arose due to the forest department’s longstanding practice of promoting monoculture teak plantations following the clear-felling of existing mixed semi-evergreen forests. This article aims to furnish insights into the Appiko movement concerning its relevance to the IAS Exam.

Appiko Movement

• The Appiko Movement emerged in 1983 in the Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka within the Western Ghats.
• Inspired by the Chipko movement, it aimed to protect forests from exploitation, similar to the movement originating in the Garhwal Himalayan region of Uttarakhand in 1973.
• In September 1983, individuals from the Salkani community, including men, women, and children, engaged in tree-hugging to save the Kalase forest.
• Led by environmentalist Panduranga Hegde, the movement compelled the state forest department and contractors to halt tree-cutting activities.
• In Kannada, “hugging” is termed “appiko,” hence the movement is locally known as Appiko Chaluvali or Chalewali.
• The Appiko Andolan effectively raised awareness among villagers in the Western Ghats about the ecological threats posed by commercial and industrial interests to their forests, vital for sustenance.

Background of Appiko Movement

• In August 1983, villagers from Sirsi Taluk in Uttara Kannada requested the forest department to halt felling operations in the Bilegal forest under the Hulekal range.
• Despite the villagers’ plea, the forest department ignored their request, and contractors continued clear-felling natural forests.
• The villagers experienced adverse effects due to the forest department’s negligence, including severe soil erosion and depletion of water resources.
• In Salkani village, residents lost access to the only remaining forest patch, which provided biomass for fuelwood, fodder, and honey.
• Spice-garden farmers in Uttara Kannada, reliant on leaf manure from forests, also suffered significant losses.

Objectives of Appiko Movement

The Appiko movement achieved its goals through three main objectives:

• Preservation of the existing forest cover.
• Regeneration of trees on deforested land.
• Sustainable utilization of forest resources, prioritizing conservation efforts.

Impact of Appiko Movement

• The Appiko movement symbolizes people’s empowerment in asserting their access to food and rights to natural resources for livelihood, vis-a-vis the state.
• It raised awareness in southern India about environmental threats posed by industrial and commercial interests.
• The movement advocated for afforestation on deforested lands, resulting in the planting of 1.2 million saplings in the Sirsi area between 1984 and 1985.
• By safeguarding essential life sources like bamboo trees, which locals utilized for crafting and selling handcrafted items, the Appiko movement preserved livelihood opportunities for natives.
• Similar to the Chipko movement, the Appiko movement revived Gandhi’s protest and mobilization methods, striving for a sustainable society that balances human and environmental needs.

Methods of Appiko Movement

• To increase awareness, the Appiko movement employed diverse tactics such as folk dances, performances in remote forests, street dramas, and foot rallies accompanied by slide exhibitions.
• The movement’s renowned slogan, “save, grow, and use forest resources rationally,” was encapsulated in Kannada as Ubsu (“save”), Belesu (“grow”), and Balasu (“rational use”).

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