Question

Discuss the causes of Deforstation in India during the colonial rule

Answer 1

Causes of deforestation in India during the Colonial rule were:

a. The British considered forests as wildernesses which must be brought under cultivation to enhance the income of the state. Thus, large tracts of forest lands were cleared for cultivating land.

b. Due to high demand, forests in Britain were dissapearing. This created a problem for British Royal navy as wood as required to build ships. The British started exploring Indian forests on a massive scale.

c. Forests were destroyed to supply sleepers for railways and to further expand areas under railways.

d. The colonial government thought forests as unproductive and hence cleared them for building dams and layingdown cities.

e. Cash crops were expected to bring huge revenues. So large areas of natural forests were cleared to make way for tea, coffee and rubber plantations.

hope it helps
mark Brainliest.

Answer 2

THANKS FOR THE QUESTION

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

The disappearance of forests is referred to as deforestation. Deforestation is not a recent problem, the process began many centuries ago ; but under colonial rule it became more systematic & extensive.

Factors that led to deforestation are -

1) In 1600 approximately one-sixth of india 's landmass was under cultivation. Now that figure has gone upto about half [i.e 3/6] . As population increased over the years, demand for food went up.

2) Peasants extended the boundaries of cultivation, clearing forests & breaking new land.

3) In the colonial period, cultivation expanded for a variety of reasons:

* The British encouraged the production of crops like cotton, jute, sugar, etc. as the demand for these crops increased in Europe.

* The colonial state thought that forests were unproductive, the forestland had to be brought under cultivation so that land could yield revenue.

4) Between 1880 & 1920 cultivated area rose by 6.7 million hectares.

5) Large areas of natural forests were also cleared to make way for tea, coffee & rubber plantations to meet Europe 's growing need.

6) The colonial govt. took over the forests & gave vast areas to European planters at cheap rates. These areas were enclosed & cleared of forests, & planted with tea or coffee.

7) In 1850s, in the Madras Presidency alone 35,000 trees were being cut annualy for sleepers [ to fulfill the need of Railways].

HOPE IT HELPS

PLZ MARK BRAINLIST