Bishnoi Community Ecology Tree Protection Rajasthan

The Bishnoi community of western Rajasthan, concentrated in the Jodhpur, Nagaur, and Barmer districts, practises one of the world oldest and most radical forms of ecological conservation rooted in the 29 precepts codified by Guru Jambheshwar Bhagavan in 1485. The Bishnoi faith prohibits cutting of Khejri Prosopis cineraria trees and killing of animals, and the community has historically sacrificed their lives to protect trees — the Khejarli massacre of 1730 in which 363 Bishnoi gave their lives to prevent tree felling is considered the world first modern environmental movement. Today Bishnoi villages are wildlife sanctuaries de facto, with blackbuck, chinkara, and peacock living fearlessly within village boundaries. Community cooperative pasture management committees manage common land grazing to prevent overgrazing. The Khejri tree provides pods for cattle fodder and leaves for emergency human food during drought. The Bishnoi ecological model is studied as a template for community-based conservation globally.