Question

Describe how changes in Forest Management/Department effected different groups of people in Colonial Period??

Answer 1

Dear Student,

• Shifting Cultivators: The colonial rulers found it difficult for the government to calculate taxes because of the shifting cultivation. Thus, many communities were forced to leave the forest and some had to join other occupations in the cities and some rebelled against the Colony authority.
• Nomadic and pastoralist communities: The Nomadic and pastoralist Groups suffered a lot . The British government declared few forests as reserved and protected. This Limited their access to these zones. They could not graze animals or collect fruits, roots, fuel and Timber. nor could get medicine from medicinal plants. They had to give up hunting and fishing in these areas.
• Firms trading in timber and forest produce: The British Colonial rule had affected the trade of timber in various ways:

1. The British government pass loss for forest preservation. Cutting trees and collection of timber was not allowed.
2. People were not allowed to collect the forest products like coconuts, bamboo, spices, silk, gum.
3. The British government gave rights to few European trading firms to trade in the forest product of few areas.

• Plantation owners: Forests were cut down to make way for tea, coffee and rubber plantations. With the British rule came plantation agriculture. Owners were mostly Europeans. These European traders made huge profits. The traders and plantation workers of India were left at the mercy of European plantation owners.
• Kings and British officials were involved in Shikhar (hunting): Hunting was considered a way a form of enjoyment by the Indian rulers. The King was recognised by the number of tigers or lions hunted by him. The British government also encouraged the killing of animals and were fond of hunting. Under the British rule, hunting increased which led to the extinction of various species.

Regards.