Discuss how the changes in forest management in the colonial period

3. HISTORY OF FOREST CONTROL AND FOREST POLICIES In the case of Forest Management, the history of deconcentration parallels the deconcentration noticed in the case of general administration but with some significant variation. For example, in India, around 1927, the forest management, so long a central matter, was transferred as a part of the revenue department to become a provincial subject. Soon the forest section became independent of the revenue department. The forest organization since then consisted of a Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) located at the provincial headquarters, his deputies called Conservators of Forests, at regional levels. The next layer of Divisional Forest Officers usually at the district headquarters and his deputies Forest Rangers at the block levels. The set-up is almost similar to the general administration but with some basic differences. The most important variation is that deconcentration in forestry never went down to the village cluster level as it did in general administration and in legislative wings. Sometimes, a forest guard was entrusted with an independent responsibility of a small forest block but the forest guard was simply a watch and ward man and had no proper authority in any other forest duties. The most important variation however was that the forest department had always taken the stand of doing away with the private or communal ownership of land containing the forest in contrast to general administration which has champion...

Questions 1. Discuss how the changes in forest management in the colonial period affected the following groups of people: Shifting cultivators Nomadic and pastoralist communities Firms trading in timber/forest produce Plantation owners Kings/British officials engaged in shikar (hunting) 2. What are the similarities between colonial management of the forests in Bastar and in Java? 3. Between 1880 and 1920, forest cover in the Indian subcontinent declined by 9.7 million hectares, from 108.6 million hectares to 98.9 million hectares. Discuss the role of the following factors in this decline: Railways Shipbuilding Agricultural expansion Commercial farming Tea/Coffee plantations Adivasis and other peasant users 4. Why are forests affected by wars? Questions 1. Discuss how the changes in forest management in the colonial period affected the following groups of people: Shifting cultivators Nomadic and pastoralist communities Firms trading in timber/forest produce Plantation owners Kings/British officials engaged in shikar (hunting) 2. What are the similarities between colonial management of the forests in Bastar and in Java? 3. Between 1880 and 1920, forest cover in the Indian subcontinent declined by 9.7 million hectares, from 108.6 million hectares to 98.9 million hectares. Discuss the role of the following factors in this decline: Railways Shipbuilding Agricultural expansion Commercial farming Tea/Coffee plantations Adivasis and other peasant users 4. Why are forests affected ...

Shifting cultivators New forest laws banned shifting cultivation. For shifting cultivators, it was devastating because there was a problem for their survival. Many of them were forced to migrate to take up some other occupations. Many others were forced to work in the tea plantations. Nomadic and pastoralist communities Grazing of animals was banned under the new forest laws. It made the life of pastoralist communities difficult. Herds of animals were their only source of livelihood. The nomadic communities were declared as criminal communities. This made their life miserable because they could no longer move freely. Firms trading in timber/forest produce Because of huge demand of timber, it was boon for the timber merchants. They must have seen good growth in their incomes. Plantation owners Land was given at cheaper rates to the plantation owners. Labour was also made available to them at very low wages. Moreover, new policies were made which prevented the workers from going back to their home villages. It was a win-win situation for the plantation owner. Kings/British officials engaged in shikar Killing of ferocious animals; like tiger or wolves was monetarily rewarded. Moreover, hunting was viewed as a sign of bravely and valour. The Kings and British officials must have enjoyed the new found honour in the society.

The effect of changes in forest management in the colonial period on — Plantation owners: They were also a happy lot like the timer-trading firms. The displaced nomadic and pastoralist tribes were often recruited by plantation owners to work on their farms. Plantation owners made big profits, making the workers workfor long hours and atlow wages. Due to the new forest laws, the workers could not even protest as this wastheir sole means of earning a livelihood.

Term Definition Fundamental Orders of Connecticut (1639) A document that established a representative government in Connecticut, featuring a legislature elected by a popular vote and a governor elected by the legislature. Halfway Covenant A religious compromise that allowed colonists in New England to become partial church members even if they had not had a religious conversion experience. Anne Hutchinson Banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony for her belief that salvation was based on faith, not good deeds. Hutchinson and her followers founded the colony of Portsmouth in 1638. Portsmouth and Providence joined to become Rhode Island in 1663. Metacom’s War (1675-1676) Also known as King Philip's War. A military conflict in which the Wampanoag and Narragansett tribes of southern New England joined together to fight against English colonists’ westward expansion. Thousands were killed on both sides before the English forces won the war, effectively ending most Native American resistance in New England. Navigation Acts A series of acts passed between 1650 and 1673 that established three rules of colonial trade: first, trade must be carried out only on English ships; second, all goods imported into the colonies had to pass through ports in England; and third, specific goods, such as tobacco, could be exported only to England. William Penn Founded the colony of Pennsylvania in 1681 as a safe haven for Quakers. Proprietary colony Colonies that were under the authority of indiv...