What was the main environmental objective of the Chipko Movement started by Sunderlal Bahuguna in 1973?

Introduction / Context:
The Chipko Movement is one of the most famous environmental movements in India and is often discussed in school textbooks and competitive exams. Led by environmental activists such as Sunderlal Bahuguna in the Himalayan region, villagers literally hugged trees to prevent them from being cut down. This question asks about the central theme of that movement, so it tests awareness of basic environmental history and the specific focus of Chipko.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The movement referred to is the Chipko Movement that began in the early 1970s.
• The movement is associated with Sunderlal Bahuguna and villagers of Uttarakhand region.
• Options include conservation of river water, conservation of forests, protection of birds and protection of cheetals.
• The question asks for the central theme or main objective, not side benefits or related issues.
• We assume standard textbook understanding of the movement.

Concept / Approach:
Chipko is a Hindi word meaning to cling. Villagers clung to trees and refused to move when contractors tried to fell them. The core idea was to protect forests from indiscriminate commercial logging that threatened local ecology, water sources and livelihood. While conserving rivers and wildlife are also important environmental goals, in this case the movement is specifically remembered as a forest conservation initiative. Therefore the correct approach is to identify which option best summarises this main focus.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that in the Chipko Movement villagers, especially women, hugged trees to prevent logging. Step 2: Understand that their protest was directed against large scale cutting of trees by contractors in the Himalayan forests. Step 3: Recognise that by protecting trees they were defending the forest ecosystem that supported soil conservation, water regulation and local livelihood. Step 4: Look at the options and identify the one that directly mentions protection of forests rather than any single animal species or river. Step 5: Conclude that conservation of forests is the central theme and select that option.

Verification / Alternative check:
Many exam guides summarise the Chipko Movement with a short phrase such as movement for forest conservation or people hugging trees to save forests. When reading about famous Indian environmental movements, Chipko is always presented as a classic example of community based forest protection. It is not introduced as a campaign for water conservation alone or for a specific species of bird or animal. This widely accepted description confirms that conservation of forests is the correct and most comprehensive choice among the alternatives given.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Conservation of river water: While protecting forests does help maintain river systems and water sources, the movement was not mainly framed as a river conservation campaign. Protection of birds: Forests do provide habitat for many birds, but the Chipko activists did not restrict their message to saving birds only, so this description is too narrow. Protection of cheetals: Cheetals are deer found in Indian forests, yet the movement did not focus on a single animal species and was more broadly about saving trees and forests. Any empty option: Blank options provide no meaningful environmental objective and can be ignored.

Common Pitfalls:
Some students may confuse Chipko with other conservation programmes that focus on wildlife sanctuaries or specific animals and therefore may be tempted by options mentioning birds or cheetals. Another confusion arises when candidates think that because forests affect rivers, the main goal must have been direct conservation of river water. It is important to remember that the hallmark image of Chipko is people hugging trees to stop them from being cut, so the core is forest conservation. Keeping this key image in mind helps avoid misinterpretation of the movement.

Final Answer:
The central environmental objective of the Chipko Movement was conservation of forests.