Q.Discuss the role of women in protection and conservation of forests.

People's participation, especially by those living in or near forests, is described as vital to forest conservation -- a locally rooted practice called community forestry that varies widely across legal, political and cultural settings. Three real Indian case studies anchor this idea. The Bishnois of Rajasthan, long known as forest conservators, trace their conservation tradition to Amrita Devi, who in 1730 was killed along with more than 363 fellow Bishnois in Khejarli village while trying to stop Maharaja Abhay Singh's men from felling sacred Khejri trees -- commemorated as 'Black Tuesday' and honoured through the state-level Amrita Devi Bishnoi Smriti Award for wildlife protection and conservation. The Chipko movement, led by Sunderlal Bahuguna in the 1970s, saw participants hug trees to physically block contractors from felling them, resisting forest destruction across India. Jadav Payeng, the 'Forest Man of India', single-handedly plante …