What was the primary objective of the Chipko Movement?

Concept

An environmental movement is collective action to protect ecosystems and natural resources. Such movements are classified by their principal objective, even when particular social groups play an important role in them.

Application

In the Chipko Movement, Himalayan villagers embraced trees to prevent commercial felling. The action directly defended forests and the livelihoods and ecological stability supported by them; therefore its primary objective was forest protection.

Contrast

• Women played a major leadership and participation role in Chipko, but that describes who participated rather than the movement's main environmental objective.

• Reservation in jobs concerns allocating employment opportunities under social or constitutional policy, not conserving forests.

• “None of these” does not apply because forest protection is explicitly represented among the choices.

Result

Hence, the primary objective of the Chipko Movement was protection of forest.