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Paper short abstract

Thengapalli women in Odisha combine traditional age-old forest guardianship, spiritual ties, and gender empowerment to combat climate change. Their partnership with the mountain and goddesses offers vital insights into the intersection of gender, nature, and sustainable environmental stewardship.

Paper long abstract

In the forests of Odisha, India, the Thengapalli women have established an enduring and sustainable relationship with nature through their traditional system of forest guardianship. In over 200 villages, groups of women patrol the forests in shifts to protect valuable trees and resources from outsiders. This practice, rooted in trust and community solidarity, is a vital response to increasing threats posed by illegal logging, environmental degradation, and climate change.

The Ma Mani Nag Hills, rich in sal, teak, and other rare trees, are more than just a resource base—they are sacred landscapes intertwined with the women’s cultural identity and spirituality. The Thengapalli women draw strength and inspiration from their revered goddess, Kalia Sandha, and other divine entities, blending spiritual reverence with practical conservation. This spiritual connection motivates sustainable practices, such as collecting fallen leaves and dry wood rather than cutting living trees, and actively replanting to maintain forest health.

The leadership of these women not only preserves biodiversity and forest ecosystems but also strengthens social cohesion by bridging caste and tribal divides. Their stewardship has sustained livelihoods and food security, especially evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, when their protective efforts helped communities remain safe and self-reliant.

This narrative reveals how gender, culture, and spirituality intersect to empower women as agents of environmental change. The Thengapalli women’s model offers critical lessons for addressing climate change through community-led conservation rooted in partnership with nature and social equity.