Between 1880 and 1920, forest cover in the Indian sub-continent declined by 9.7 million hectares, from 108.56 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

Railways: During 19th century India was industrially lagging behind. Therefore, in the development of communication wood played a vital role. The first railway track was laid in 1853 in India. Wood was used as fuel to run locomotives and sleepers were required for tracks to hold them together tightly. As per estimate around 2000 sleepers were rquired to lay down only a mile of railway track. Thus, it can be said that, in the decline of forest resources, railway played a vital role in India.

Shipbuilding: As we know that wood is the raw material which is used in shipbuilding. In the 19th century, sea was the main route of trade and commerce. By 19th century, oak forests in England started disappearing. This created a severe problem of timber supply for the Royal Navy. For this reason in 1820, a timber search team was sent to explore the forest resources in India. Within a decade, trees were being felled on a massive scale because vast quantities of timber exported from India to England.

Agricultural Expansion: After the advent of the Europeans especially the British, the exploitation of forest area increased. In order to supplement the need of food for the increasing population led to the rapid expansion of agricultural land. There were numerous reasons for this. They thought the forest as useless and so encouraged agriculture for revenue as well as to increase their income. Due to the increase in the demands of commercial crops required for industries, thus, the production increased as well as the cultivation area between 1880 and 1920 rose by 6.7 million hectares indicating progress in agriculture.

Adivasis and other peasant users: The British Government imposed certain forest laws in India but Adivasis and other peasant users were able to dodge laws by dubious means. They stole wood from the forest and grazed their cattle stealthy. If they were caught they bribed the forest guards. Even women continued to collect firewood. The police officials and forest guards demanded favours from the Adivasis and peasant users for illegal felling of trees etc.