Question

Explain the provision of the forest act passed by the dutch.

Answer 1

The dutch controlled the forests in Indonesia and Java and it largely affected the lives of the people. Some of the provisions of Forest Act were as follows.

1) The Dutch made the forest laws which restricted the entry and use of the forests by the local people.
2) The dutch collected heavy rent from the people who cultivated in the forest.
3) Those who agreed to work for the forest department, were exempted from taxation but they were treated as bonded labours.
4) Grazing in the forest was banned and shifting cultivation was restricted.
5) Wood could be collected only for specific purposes like ship building, construction of houses etc. The wood could be collected only from certain forests and under close supervision.
6) Severe punishment were given to those who violated the laws.

Answer 2

 *   The  Dutch  enacted  forest  laws  in  Java  restricting  people's  access to  forests.

*  Wood  could  only  be  cut  for  specified   purposes  like  constructing  houses    and   making  river  boats.

 

*Wood  could  be  taken  from  specific  forests  but  under  close  supervision.

*  Villagers  were  punished  if  they  grazed  cattle  in  young  stands,transported  wood  without  a  permit  or  travelled  on  forest  roads  with  cattle  or  horse  carts.

*  First  the  Dutch  imposed  rents  on  lands  being  cultivated  in  the  forest.

*  Then  they  exempted  some  villages  from  these  rents  if  they  worked  collectively  to  provide  free  labour  and  buffaloes  for  cutting  and  transporting  timber.This  was  known  as  the  blangdongdiensten  system.

*  Afterwards  instead  of  rent  exemption  foret   villagers  wee  given  small  wages  but  their  right   to  cultivate on  forest  land  was  still  restricted.