Dutch Scientific Forestry


 
 
Concept Explanation
 

Dutch Scientific Forestry

Dutch Scientific Forestry: In the 19th century, the Dutch enacted forest laws in Java, restricting villagers’ access to forests.

  • This law imposed that wood could be cut for specified purposes like making river boats or constructing houses.
  • But this was done only from specific forests and under close supervision. Villagers were punished for grazing cattle, transporting wood without a permit or travelling on forest roads with horse carts or cattle.
  • This was similar as in India, the need to manage forests ‘for shipbuilding and railways led to the introduction of a forest service.
  • In 1882, 280,000 sleepers were exported from Java alone, However, all this required labour to cut the trees, transport the logs and prepare the sleepers.
  • The Dutch first imposed rents on land being cultivated in the forest. It then exempted some villages from these rents if the villagers worked collectively to provide free labour and buffaloes for cutting and transporting timber.
  • This was known as the Blandongdiensten System. Later, instead of rent exemption, forest villagers were given small wages, but their right to cultivate forest land was restricted.
  • Note : Most of Indonesia’s forests are located in islands like Sumatra, Kalimantan and West Irian. However, Java is where the Dutch began their scientific forestry.

    Sarnin’s Challenge: Around 1890, Surontiko Samin of Randublatung village (a teak forest village) started a movement against the state ownership of the forest. He argued that state could not own forest as it had not created the wind, water, earth and wood.

  • By 1907, 3000 families were following his ideas. Some of the Saminists protested by lying down on their land when the Dutch came to survey it i.e. While others refused to pay taxes, fines or perform labour.
  • Blandongdinensten System was introduced by the Dutch in Indonesia. The main features of this system are

  • Imposing of rents on the lands which were cultivated in the forests.
  • Exemption to some villages under certain conditions.
  • Collective work by the villages to provide free labour and buffaloes for cutting and transporting timber.
  • Sample Questions
    (More Questions for each concept available in Login)
    Question : 1

    Who were the first settlers to start forest management in Java, Indonesia?

    Right Option : D
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