Throughout the course of history, human actions have had detrimental effects on the environment, leading to the depletion of forests and wildlife. Amid these challenges, there exist lesser-known narratives of individuals who have dedicated their lives to safeguarding the natural world for future generations. Here, we delve into three inspiring accounts from India, the United States, and Canada.
In 1730, in the village of Khejarli in the Jodhpur district of Rajasthan, India, Maharaja Abhay Singh sought to construct a new royal palace. To facilitate this, Singh ordered the felling of Khejri trees in the area, crucial to the desert ecosystem for their provision of sustenance, shade, shelter, and fodder for livestock. Despite the significance of these trees, royal soldiers and woodcutters began implementing the directive. Witnessing this, a woman named Amrita Devi from the village, along with her two daughters, valiantly confronted the soldiers in a bid to protect the trees. Disregarded, the women embraced the trees, asserting, “Sar santey rukh rahe to bhi sasto jan” — symbolizing the value of a tree saved, even at the cost of a life. Tragically, the soldiers killed the three women, sparking a broader resistance movement across nearby villages. This event marked India’s first recorded environmental movement and the world’s earliest women-led environmental campaign, with an estimated 363 individuals sacrificing their lives before the king intervened, halting the tree-cutting operations.
In a realm where marginalized groups have often been overlooked for their contributions to environmental conservation history in North America, the narrative of Charles Young stands out. Born into slavery in 1864 in Kentucky, Young escaped to Ohio as an infant with his family. Despite facing racism throughout his career, Young excelled academically, becoming one of the first Black students at his high school. After graduating with honors, he entered the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1884. Assigned to lead troops protecting what are now Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks in California in 1903, Young safeguarded the parks by preventing livestock grazing, illegal logging, and wildlife poaching. His troops also pioneered the construction of early park roads, many of which remain in use today, shaping access to the parks for future generations.
In the 1970s, amidst escalating interest in oil and gas exploration in the Canadian Arctic, plans for a pipeline traversing the environmentally fragile Mackenzie River Delta drew opposition from Indigenous communities and environmental groups. In response, a public inquiry was initiated in March 1974, led by Thomas Berger, a Justice on the B.C. Supreme Court at the time. Berger significantly expanded the inquiry’s scope, engaging with 35 northern communities and hosting extensive hearings, including testimony in local languages. His 1977 recommendation against a pipeline through sensitive ecological areas underscored the importance of preserving Indigenous livelihoods and ecosystems. Ultimately, the project was shelved in 2017, following Imperial Oil’s withdrawal amidst economic shifts. Berger’s thorough and inclusive approach to the inquiry highlighted the significance of engaging with communities directly affected by environmental decisions.