{"id":56127,"date":"2026-02-03T17:50:12","date_gmt":"2026-02-03T12:20:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=56127"},"modified":"2026-02-03T17:57:06","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T12:27:06","slug":"appiko-movement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/appiko-movement\/","title":{"rendered":"Appiko Movement, History, Background, Leaders, Objectives, Impact"},"content":{"rendered":"

Appiko means “to embrace” in Kannada, similar movement started in the Southern India in the similar way of the famous Chipko Movement<\/strong><\/a> in North India. In 1983, villagers from Salkani village in Uttara Kannada, Karnataka, hugged trees and refused to let them be felled. Leading this southern “hug the trees” movement was environmentalist Panduranga Hegde. Over the next months, their grassroots campaign protected crucial parts of the Western Ghats, reversed deforestation policies, and promoted a broader ecological awakening.<\/span><\/p>\n

Appiko Movement<\/b><\/h2>\n

The Appiko Movement took place in 1983, when men, women, and children gathered to prevent loggers from cutting trees in the Kalase forest near Salkani in the state of Karnataka. It was a peaceful, culturally rooted protest. This movement succeeded in protecting tree felling through nonviolent, direct action and community resolve. <\/span>The Movement was initiated by Panduranga Hegde, a local environmentalist trained in Delhi and inspired by the Chipko Movement. On 8 September 1983, hundreds from Sirsi Taluk marched 8\u202fkm into Kalase forest and began surrounding trees to stop the loggers from cutting them. The practice of hugging trees took on a uniquely Kannada life as Appiko Chaluvali. This movement was the response to the destruction of forests which reduced the forested area from 81% in 1950 to 25% in 1980.<\/p>\n

Appiko Movement Historical Background<\/b><\/h2>\n

The Historical Timeline and Evolution of the Appiko Movement is detailed below:<\/p>\n