Social Media-Based Conservation Initiatives to Reduce the Loss of Medicinal Plant Biodiversity in Chitrakoot – A Review

Abstract

The Chitrakoot region, a sacred landscape straddling the border of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, represents a significant repository of tropical dry deciduous forest biodiversity and ancient ethnomedicinal heritage. For generations, indigenous Kol, Gond, Mawasi and Khairwar communities have relied on local flora as a living pharmacy. Yet this botanical legacy is now eroding under unprecedented pressure from habitat fragmentation, unscientific harvesting, and the gradual erosion of traditional ecological knowledge (TEK). A 2002–2005 ethnobotanical study across seven villages documented 28 plant species with unique medicinal applications previously unreported in literature, while a 2005–2009 survey in 20 villages identified 47 plant species used to treat conditions including malarial fever, jaundice, skin diseases, dysentery, pneumonia and urinary disorders. The crisis is compounded by a silent yet profound erosion of TEK, as younger generations show declining interest in knowledge transmitted orally across generations. This qualitative article synthesizes findings from these comprehensive reviews to explore a critical question: can social media-based conservation initiatives help reverse this loss? By weaving together botanical field data, digital communication frameworks, and successful Indian case studies, the analysis argues that while institutional efforts provide essential foundations, passive citizen science through platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram can accelerate species documentation, raise awareness of illegal harvesting, and re-engage youth. A case in point is the ‘One Rupee Per Day for Wildlife Conservation’ WhatsApp group in Rajasthan, which has brought together nearly 1,300 contributors to fund plantation drives, wildlife watering holes and invasive species removal from sacred groves. Similarly, the Facebook-based SpiderIndia initiative has collected over 20,000 observations from 8,500 enthusiasts, with a curated dataset of over 15,000 records now accessible via the Global Biodiversity Information Facility. The narrative concludes that a hybrid socio-digital model one that respects TEK sovereignty while harnessing the networked power of mobile technology offers a replicable pathway for safeguarding Chitrakoot’s botanical soul.

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