Guggul (Commiphora wightii)
- Flowering, thorny shrub valued for medicinal gum/resin
- IUCN Status: Critically Endangered in India
- Habitat: drylands and barren ravines requiring minimal irrigation
- Found in Chambal ravines, Morena district, Madhya Pradesh
Grassroots Revival
- Local social worker Zakir Hussain and NGO Sujagriti mobilised farmers to revive the exploited Guggul shrub
- Trained locals in sustainable, scientific gum-extraction techniques
- Restored 400 hectares, generated local incomes, and stopped ravine erosion
- Model for biodiversity-linked livelihood generation
UPSC Angle
- GS3: Biodiversity, IUCN Red List, community-based conservation, livelihood
Sources: Down to Earth, CSE