Deforestation refers to the systematic clearing or thinning of forested areas, and it’s not a new phenomenon. However, during the colonial era, particularly under British rule in India, the rate of deforestation increased dramatically.

Land To Be Improved

During the 1600s, about one-sixth of India’s landmass was under cultivation, but today that figure has soared to nearly half. As the population grew, so did the demand for food, leading to an expansion of cultivated land often at the cost of forests. The British colonial rule accelerated this process for two main reasons:

1.Commercial Crops: The British promoted the cultivation of commercial crops like jute, sugar, wheat, and cotton to meet the demands of their own growing urban populations and industrial requirements.

2.Colonial Perspective On Forests: The colonial rulers viewed forests as unproductive lands that could be better used for cultivation, thereby contributing to the state’s income. Between 1880 and 1920 alone, the cultivated area increased by 6.7 million hectares.

The implication here is that the progress signified by expanding cultivation came at the direct expense of forest ecosystems.

Sleepers On The Tracks