Forest Society And Colonialism

 Introduction 

Forest is very important resource for humans survival. They gives us bamboo, wood for fuel, grass, packaging, charcoal, animals, fruits, flowers, birds and many more

Forest like Amazon, Western Ghats, etc. almost 500 different plant species find in one forest patch.

Between 1700 and 1995, industrialization vastly occurs that causes 13.9 million km² ( 9.3% of world area) of forest was cutted for industrial uses, cultivation, pastures and fuelwood which leds to disappearence of lot of diversity.

Deforestation

The process of cutting down of trees recklessly is known as deforestation.

This occurs centuries ago, but during colonial rule it become systematic and extensive

Causes of deforestation in India

1. Land to be Improved

• Between 1600 to 1800 agricultural area from 1/6 of landmass gone up to half.
• As the population increased, demand for foodgrains rose up, peasants expand their cultivation by the cutting forest and gathering new lands.
• British increased the production of commercial crops that were needed by industries.
• The British thought that forests were unproductive as a result between 1880 to 1920, 6.7 million hectare forests were cutting down for cultivation. 

  2. Sleepers on the tracks

• Spread of railways from the 1850s create a huge demand for forests.
• Forest was used to build trains, wood used as a fuel, tracks were made by sleepers of wood.
• From 1860 to 1890 railways extended from 25,500 km to 765,000 km.
• During the 1850s trees were recklessly cut down only in Madras presidency 35,000 trees cut throughout every year.
• The government gave contracts to the local contractor which led to fast disappearance of the forest.

3. Plantations

• Forests were cleared for the plantations of tea & coffee and rubber which has huge demand in Europe.
• The British captured the forest and gave it at very cheap rate to European planters. 
• Planters cleared forest and planted tea or coffee there.