Deforestation


Forest Society and Colonialism I - Concepts
Class - 9th CBSE Subjects
 
 
Concept Explanation
 

Deforestation

INTRODUCTION:

Forests play a major role in enhancing the quality of environment. Forests provide us bamboo and wood for fuel, grass, charcoal, packaging, fruits, flowers, animals, birds and many other things. Inspite of being an important resource, the forests are disappearing at a fast rate. Between 1700 to 1995, the period of industrialization, 13.9 million sq km of forests or 9.3% of the world’s total area was cleared for industrial uses, cultivation, pastures and fuel wood.

DEFORESTATION:  The disappearance of forests is referred to as deforestation. The process of deforestation began many centuries ago in India. Under colonial rule it became more systematic and extensive.

CAUSES OF DEFORESTATION: Some of the causes of deforestation are given below

  • To Increase the Land for Cultivation: As the population increased with time, the need for food increased. Thus, peasants increased the cultivation by clearing forests. In colonial period, British encouraged the production of crops like jute, sugar, wheat and cotton. These crops are required to feed the growing urban population of Europe and for raw material needed for industrial production. Colonial Government also thought that forest were unproductive. Between 1880 and 1920 forest disappeared to a great extent and cultivation area rose by 6.7 million hectares.
  • To Supply the Timber for Royal Navy: In 19th century, due to disappearance of oak trees in England, there was a problem of timber supply for the Royal Navy. Ships of Royal Navy could not be built without a regular supply of strong and durable timber. To maintain the timber supply for Royal Navy, search parties were sent to explore the forest resources of India. Lot of trees in India were cut within a decade and huge quantity of timber was exported to England.
  • To Expand Railway Network: From 1850s, the railway network expanded rapidly. Wood was needed as a fuel to run rail engines (locomotives) and wooden sleepers were required to hold the track together. The government gave out contracts to individuals to supply the required quantities of timber. These contractors began cutting trees indiscriminately. Forest around the railway tracks started disappearing at fast rate.
  • To Enclose Areas for Plantations: Large areas of natural forests were also cleared to set up tea, coffee and rubber plantations to meet Europe’s growing need for these commodities. The Colonial Government took over the forests and gave vast areas to European planters at cheap rates. The planters enclosed these areas, cleared forests and planted it with tea and coffee.
  •  
     
     


    Students / Parents Reviews [10]