Forest Society and Colonialism

Introduction to Forest Society and Colonialism

• Forest societies depend on forests for their livelihoods.
• Colonialism involves one country dominating another politically, economically, and socially.
• The chapter examines the impact of colonialism on forest societies.

Chapter Content Overview

• Deforestation and commercial forestry are key topics.
• Case studies include Bastar (Chhattisgarh, India) and Java (Indonesia).
• These case studies show the impact of colonialism.

Deforestation: Why It Occurred

• Deforestation is the disappearance of forests.
• Deforestation became more systematic during colonial rule.

Reasons for Deforestation

• Increasing food demand led to clearing forests for agriculture.
• Commercial crops like jute, sugar, wheat, and cotton were expanded for raw materials during British rule.
• The urban population relied on agriculture, leading to deforestation to create farmland.
• The colonial government saw forests as unproductive.
• Converting forests to agriculture was seen as progress and generated revenue.

Railway Expansion and Deforestation

• Sleepers are wooden planks that hold railway tracks in place.
• Railway expansion in India after the 1850s required sleepers.
• Railway development was crucial for colonial trade and troop movement.
• Thousands of sleepers were needed per mile, leading to large-scale deforestation.
• In 1860, there were 2,500 miles of track, increasing to 26,500 miles by 1916.
• An estimated 35,000 trees were cut annually in the Madras Presidency alone for sleepers.
• Contractors accelerated deforestation.

The Royal Navy and Deforestation

• The British Royal Navy needed timber for shipbuilding.
• By the early 19th century, oak forests in England were depleted, leading to timber sourcing in India.
• Large quantities of timber exported from India caused deforestation.

Plantation Farming and Deforestation

• Plantation farming involves cultivating crops on large land tracts for profit.
• Natural forests were cleared for plantations.
• Crops like tea, coffee, and rubber were grown for European industries and trade.
• European planters acquired land for plantations, leading to deforestation.

The Rise of Commercial Forestry

• Commercial forestry focuses on the economic value of forests.
• It emerged due to British interest in Indian timber.
• The British worried that local people would cause deforestation.
• Dietrich Brandis, a German expert, was invited to establish commercial forestry in India.
• Dietrich Brandis became the first Inspector General of Forests in India.

Dietrich Brandis' Contributions

• Brandis believed in the "science of conservation."
• He advocated restricting tree felling and grazing to conserve timber.
• Brandis supported legal sanctions for conservation.

The Indian Forest Service and Forest Act

• The Indian Forest Service was set up in 1864.
• The Indian Forest Act was formulated in 1865.

Imperial Forest Research Institute

• Established in Dehradun in 1906.
• The institute taught scientific forestry.

Scientific Forestry

• Natural forests were cut down and replaced with one type of tree planted in straight rows (plantation).
• Forest officials surveyed and planned forest management.
• Plans included deciding harvest areas per year and replanting.

Impact of Forest Laws on Villagers

• Villagers depended on forests for livelihoods.
• The forest department and villagers had different views on what constitutes a good forest.
• Villagers preferred mixed species for diverse needs, while the forest department preferred timber species.

Villagers Reliant on Forest

• Forest products provided food, medicine, and agricultural tools.
• Forests had thousands of uses for local populations.

Severe Effects on Villagers

• Forest acts made villagers' lives difficult.
• Essential activities were banned.
• People were forced to steal wood and faced punishment, with bribes and harassment common.

Growing Tendu Leaves

• Tendu leaf harvesting was an important income stream for forest communities.

Impact on Cultivators

• Shifting cultivation, also known as swidden agriculture, was practiced.
• Swidden agriculture involves cutting and burning a forest part and sowing seeds in the ashes.
• Plots were harvested for a few years and then abandoned for 12-18 years.
• The Colonial Government considered shifting cultivation harmful.
• They were concerned that the trees cut would no longer be available for railways.
• They also had concerns, because of the growing risk of damage to valuables as fire may spread.
• Finally the Colonial Government thought it was difficult to collect taxes from shifting cultivators .
• The British Government banned shifting cultivation, forcing people to leave their homes.
• This caused many to migrate to cities for labor.

Explore forest societies and the impact of colonialism. Learn about deforestation, commercial forestry, and their consequences. Case studies of Bastar and Java illustrate colonial impacts.