Write a short note on Chipko Movement.

The Chipko Movement, originating in the early 1970s in the Himalayan region of India, is a renowned environmental conservation movement that focused on forest conservation through non-violent and grassroots activism. "Chipko" means "to hug" or "to cling to" in Hindi, and the name reflects the protesters' strategy of hugging trees to prevent them from being felled.

Led predominantly by local communities, especially women, the Chipko Movement emerged in response to the rampant deforestation and commercial logging practices that threatened the ecological balance of the region. Villagers, realizing the significance of forests in their lives for sustenance and ecological well-being, adopted a peaceful form of resistance.

The movement gained widespread attention when, in 1973, the villagers of Mandal, in the state of Uttarakhand, successfully embraced trees to prevent logging contractors from felling them. The Chipko Movement not only raised awareness about the environmental consequences of deforestation but also underscored the importance of involving local communities, particularly women, in environmental conservation efforts.

The success of the Chipko Movement had a lasting impact on environmental activism globally, influencing subsequent movements and policies advocating sustainable development and community-based conservation. It exemplifies the power of grassroots movements in bringing about positive environmental change.