psychologicalblogspot

Causes of Deforestation in Colonial India Expansion of cultivation: The population increased, and peasants expanded cultivation, clearing forests to meet the growing demand for food. British colonial rulers encouraged the production of commercial crops, such as jute, sugar, wheat, and cotton, which led to increased cultivation and deforestation. Perception of unproductive forests: The colonial state considered forests unproductive and aimed to bring them under cultivation to generate revenue. Railway expansion: The rapid spread of railways from the 1850s created a new demand for wood as fuel for locomotives and sleepers for tracks. Plantations : Large areas of natural forests were cleared to make way for tea, coffee, and rubber plantations to meet the demands of European markets. Impact on indigenous communities: Indigenous communities, like Adivasis, were involved in logging activities but often not allowed to cut these trees for their own use. The rapid deforestation had a signif...