Chapter 4: Forest Society and Colonialism - NCERT Solutions
Exercise
Q1. Discuss how the changes in forest management in the colonial period affected the following groups of people:
Shifting cultivators
Nomadic and pastoralist communities
Firms trading in timber/forest produce
Plantation owners
Kings/British officials engaged in shikar (hunting)
Shifting cultivators
Nomadic and pastoralist communities
Firms trading in timber/forest produce
Plantation owners
Kings/British officials engaged in shikar (hunting)
Answer - The changes in forest management affected different groups as follows:
● Shifting cultivators: Their traditional practice of slash-and-burn cultivation was banned or restricted, leading to loss of livelihood.
● Nomadic and pastoralist communities: They lost access to grazing lands and forest produce, disrupting their seasonal movements.
● Firms trading in timber/forest produce: Benefited greatly as the colonial government promoted commercial exploitation and granted licenses.
● Plantation owners: Gained from increased availability of cleared forest land for plantations.
● Kings/British officials engaged in shikar (hunting): They lost traditional hunting grounds as forests were commercialized and protected under new laws.
● Shifting cultivators: Their traditional practice of slash-and-burn cultivation was banned or restricted, leading to loss of livelihood.
● Nomadic and pastoralist communities: They lost access to grazing lands and forest produce, disrupting their seasonal movements.
● Firms trading in timber/forest produce: Benefited greatly as the colonial government promoted commercial exploitation and granted licenses.
● Plantation owners: Gained from increased availability of cleared forest land for plantations.
● Kings/British officials engaged in shikar (hunting): They lost traditional hunting grounds as forests were commercialized and protected under new laws.
Q2. What are the similarities between colonial management of the forests in Bastar and in Java?
Answer - The colonial management in Bastar and Java shared these similarities:
● Both involved strict control and restriction on forest use by local communities.
● Forest resources were primarily exploited for commercial purposes by the colonial powers.
● Traditional rights of local people were ignored or severely limited.
● There was state monopoly over forests to maximize revenue.
● Resistance and conflicts arose in both areas due to these policies.
● Both involved strict control and restriction on forest use by local communities.
● Forest resources were primarily exploited for commercial purposes by the colonial powers.
● Traditional rights of local people were ignored or severely limited.
● There was state monopoly over forests to maximize revenue.
● Resistance and conflicts arose in both areas due to these policies.
Q3. Between 1880 and 1920, forest cover in the Indian subcontinent declined by 9.7 million hectares, from 108.6 million hectares to 98.9 million hectares. Discuss the role of the following factors in this decline:
Railways
Shipbuilding
Agricultural expansion
Commercial farming
Tea/Coffee plantations
Adivasis and other peasant users
Railways
Shipbuilding
Agricultural expansion
Commercial farming
Tea/Coffee plantations
Adivasis and other peasant users
Answer - The decline in forest cover was caused by multiple factors:
● Railways: Construction required large amounts of timber for sleepers and fuel, increasing deforestation.
● Shipbuilding: Demand for teak and other hardwoods for building ships led to over-exploitation.
● Agricultural expansion: Forests were cleared to create more farmland to feed the growing population.
● Commercial farming: Large-scale farming for profit resulted in forest land being converted to crops.
● Tea/Coffee plantations: Expansion of plantations led to clearing of forest areas.
● Adivasis and other peasant users: Their traditional, small-scale forest use was minimal in causing deforestation compared to commercial activities.
● Railways: Construction required large amounts of timber for sleepers and fuel, increasing deforestation.
● Shipbuilding: Demand for teak and other hardwoods for building ships led to over-exploitation.
● Agricultural expansion: Forests were cleared to create more farmland to feed the growing population.
● Commercial farming: Large-scale farming for profit resulted in forest land being converted to crops.
● Tea/Coffee plantations: Expansion of plantations led to clearing of forest areas.
● Adivasis and other peasant users: Their traditional, small-scale forest use was minimal in causing deforestation compared to commercial activities.
Q4. Why are forests affected by wars?
Answer - Forests are affected by wars due to:
● Destruction caused by battles, troop movements, and military camps.
● Increased demand for timber for building forts, trenches, weapons, and ships.
● Displacement of local communities leading to changes in forest use.
● Neglect of forest management as governments focus on war efforts.
● Sometimes forests are deliberately cleared or set on fire as a military strategy.
● Destruction caused by battles, troop movements, and military camps.
● Increased demand for timber for building forts, trenches, weapons, and ships.
● Displacement of local communities leading to changes in forest use.
● Neglect of forest management as governments focus on war efforts.
● Sometimes forests are deliberately cleared or set on fire as a military strategy.