Question

what were the main causes of deforestation in India during the British rule???

Answer 1

cutting wood sleepers for railway track
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Answer 2

Hi friend
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Your answer
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Reasons behind deforestation during colonial period : -

(1) Railways
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For transporting troops and for trade railways were an important means of transport. From 1860 , railway network expanded rapidly ,about 25,500 km of tracks were laid by 1890. Each mile of track required about 1760 to 2000 sleepers which were made of wood , also the railway locomotives used wood fuel.

(2) Ship building
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In the early 19th century ,oak forests in england disappeared rapidly ,creating a dwindling supply of wood for ship building for the Royal navy. A huge quantity of sal and teak wood were exported from India for ship building.

(3) Urbanisation and industrialisation in Britain
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Growing urbanisation in Britain created demand for crops like coffee,tea,rubber etc and industrialisation created demand for raw materials .

(4) Plantations
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Forests were considered as wilderness and unproductive as they didn't yield ant revenue for the state. Agriculture was seen as a sign of progress. Thus more land was brought under cultivation. The British government gave vast areas of land to European planters who cleared the forests and grew plantation crops like indigo,jute,rubber,coffee etc.

The above factors led to deforestation during colonial period.

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