occupations of the people of Bastar give answer in detail
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Java is a famous rice producing island in Indonesia. It was a Dutch colony and has similarities in laws forest control with India. It was a place where the Dutch started new forest management policy.
The Woodcutter of java
The kalangs of java were community skilled forest cutters of shifting cultivators. Without expertise, it was difficult to harvest teaks and for kings to build their places. When Dutch began to gain control over them in 18th century, kalangs resisted by attacking a Dutch fort in 1770 but their rebellion was suppressed.
Dutch scientific forestry
In 19th century, Dutch introduced new forest laws and restricted villagers’ access to forests. Wood could only be used for specific purpose like making river boats or constructing houses, only from specific forests under close supervision.
Villagers were punished for grazing their cattle in young stands, transporting wood without permission or travelling on forest roads with horse carts or cattle. The need to manage shipbuilding and railways led to the introduction of forest services.
In 1882, 280,000 sleepers were to be exported to java which requires labour to cut the trees, transport logs and prepare sleepers. The Dutch imposed rents on land being cultivated and then exempted some villages on condition to provide free labour and buffaloes. This was known as Blandongdiensten system.
Samin’s challenge
In 1990, Surontiko Samin Randublatung village questioned on state ownership of forest. He argued that state had not created wind, water, earth and wood so it could not own it.
In 1907, around 3000 families followed his ideas. A widespread movement was developed. Some of the Saminists protested by laying down on their land in front of Dutch while others refused to pay taxes or fines or perform labour.
War and Deforestation
The first and second world war had a major impact on forests. In India, working plans were abandoned and forest department cut trees freely to meet British war needs.
Dutch followed a scorched earth’ policy in Java and destroyed sawmills and burnt huge piles of giant teak logs so that would not fall into Japanese hands.
The Japanese exploited the forests recklessly for their own war industries, forcing forest villagers to cut down trees. Many villagers used this opportunity to expand cultivation in the forest.
As in India, people’s need for agricultural land has brought then into conflict with forest department’s desire to control the land and exclude people from it.
New developments in forestry
Since 1980’s government across Asia and Africa have begun to see that scientific forestry and policy of keeping forest communities away from forests has resulted in many conflicts.
Conservation of forest has become important than to collect timber. For this, people living near the forest are involved. Villages have helped forest to survive as they protected them in sacred groves.