Question

How did the colonial state view forests in the early nineteenth century?

Answer 1

Hint: Colonial rulers considered the Indian forests as unproductive and filled with wilderness. Colonial states used forest land as the source of revenue. Colonial rulers destroyed many forests for the construction of certain facilities according to their needs. And even implemented their laws related to the forests in India.

Complete answer:
In the nineteenth century, the colonial state regarded forests as unproductive. Forests were considered to be wilderness in the past. Colonial rulers told to keep it under cultivation so that it can yield agricultural products and enhance the income of the state.
Colonialism brought fundamental changes in resource use, especially forests. Before the arrival of the British, forest land was common property. The forests were managed and controlled by social institutional structures such as caste-related people and traditional people. Due to colonialism, the area under the forest began to shrink. The Britishers used to collect taxes for these lands that do not do cultivation. The loss of forests led to the creation of villages which resulted in the collection of taxes. The forests in India were inexhaustible. Certain organizations were created against forest destructions that brought many legislations. The Britishers implemented a law that regulated the movement of forest dwellers within the forests. According to the forest act, reserved forests, protected forests, and village forests were to be designated. Reserved forests were the most deemed, as it is in rural communities where people are illiterate and not legally updated. Protected forests had some concessions for the reservation of commercial tree species. And these forests were used for fuelwood collection. Village forests are the ancient forests where tribes live.
Indian forests are the rural industries and a major environmental resource. India is considered one of the most forest-rich countries in the world. India’s sixty percent of the area is covered by forests. Forest degradation is one of the major concerns of Indian forests. During the colonial period, this land has become the source of revenue.

Note: The natural resources are commodified with the process of colonialism. The tree named Indian teak was highly prized during this period. For the construction of the railway system, many forest areas were destroyed, especially cutting down trees. These destructions affected certain species that lived in the forests (extinction of animals).