o Introduction

By Vanshika mor
 Forest, Society and Imperialism
Forests have played a significant role in the
development of civilization. Not only are they
indispensable sources of food, fuel and material for
shelter, but they also are essential to the protection


and maintenance, and in the evolution of cultured
institutes.
As in the British period, the government through
that the farmers are destroying the forest for
agriculture. To put a restriction on the farmer’s use
of the forest, the Britishers made several laws. Also,
they formed a society to supervise all the laws and
their execution, which was named the forest society.
From an ancient time, the tribal
and peasant communities were
using the forest for their
cultivation. And, the imposed
laws deprived the tribal and the
peasants communities from
their means of subsistence. The
sole purpose of the British
government was to use it for
their commercial purpose.

Made by: Riya Gup

 3.The Advent of Green Imperialism

Historically, IMPERIALISM refers to deep impact of unequal relationship on

cultures and ecologies of colonies [contrary to its modern definition as
domination]
European colonizers in Asia, Africa, etc., radically expanded their authority to
extract natural resources and thus, they transformed the livelihood patterns of
colonized societies, adversely impacting forest land and dwellers.


 Two famous acts were taken by the colonists based on the previous laws implemented
under the British :
 THE INDIAN FOREST ACT OF 1878 – It segregated forests into RESERVED and
PROTECTED forests.
• Reserved : Forests enjoying judicial fortification based on legitimate systems.
• Protected : These forests are either demarcated or un-demarcated, based on whether
the limits of the forests have been specified by a formal notification.
There are further 4 categories of the protected forests : NATIONAL PARKS,
SANCTUARIES, CONSERVATION and also COMMUNITY RESERVES.
- THE INDIAN FOREST ACT OF 1927

Through this ACT, the British government decided to BAN Shifting Cultivation
which resulted in forcible displacement of many communities.
- By NISCHAL GARG
  In 1865, the British rulers enacted the Indian Forest Acct on using the forest
areas for commercial crop cultivation. After that, they introduced the term
‘Commercial Forestry’ in 1878.

o REVOLTS AGAINST THE COLONIAL RULE :-

Major tribal uprisings in the phase when the top classes of tribal society
produced the leadership were :
-The Kol Uprising
-Santhal Uprising
-Khond and also Early Munda Uprising

3.1 Livelihood in South-East Asia
 Bastar Rebellion [1910 – Bastar] : It first started in the Kanger forest
area.
Violence aggressively emerged against the oppressive laws as only
reservations proved to be the last straw. However, Gunda Dhur could
never be captured and work on reservation was thereafter temporarily
suspended.
By - NISCHAL GARG
 By NISCHAL GARG
3.2 Transformations in Java (mostly covered with forests)
I. The Woodcutters of Java or the Kalangs worked under the absolute
control of the Dutch.
II. Dutch Scientific Forestry{19th century} – enacting of the forest laws
to control the people and the territory, restricting villagers’ access to
forests.
III. Samin’s (Surontiko Samin) Challenge – Stating that the State could
not own the wind, water, earth, and wood as it has not created these.
IV. War and Deforestation – The Dutch followed ‘scorched earth’ policy
and exploited the forests. They
down forests.  also forced the villagers to cut

V. New Developments in Forestry - Scientific forestry, that is,

conservation and management of forests based upon science.
Naitik kothari

AFTERMATH
COLONIALISM

In 1878 British Formulated 1st forest policy , 1878 act divided forest
into three:
 Reserved Forest
 Protected Forest
 Village Forest
Among all these three forests were called 'Reserved Forest' . Villagers
could not take anything from these forests for their own usage . Forest
Research Institution was established at Dehradun in 1906 . The
system they taught here was called 'scientific Forestry' . Many people
now including ecologists , felt that this system is not at all scientific
Naitik Kothari

POST INDEPENDENCE
FOREST POLICIES

 1952: Policy of 1952 recommended that 33% of the area of the country be
brought under forest covers
 1976: Require the U.S Forest Service to develop plans for National Forests
I. Set standards for timber sales
II. Great policies to regulate timber harvest

 1988: Policy of 1988 is to ensure environmental stability and maintenance

of ecological balance including atmospheric equilibrium which are vital
for sustenance all life forms , Humans , animals and Plants.
 1994: Peoples welfare principles inscribed in the contituition of the
People Republic of Bangladesh;
I. Long term and specific roles of the forests sector in the overall socio-
economic development of Agriculture , Cottage Industries and of the
sectors;
Naitik kothari

 2018: The draft forest policies , 2018 will be an overarching policy

for forest management.

I. It aims at bringing a minimum of one-third of India's total

geographical area under forest or tree cover
II. It seems to address the concern of decline in forest productivity.
 Conclusion..
The various tribes who were free to live their lives , collecting forest
produce and working on fields , lost their culture and tradition and lived
their lives under the severe oppression of British rule . THE TRIBALS
WANTED TO DRIVE OUT THE FOREIGNERS- the missionaries , British ,


landlords , and the government . They saw these as the cause of their
miseries . The following facts account for their anger against the
government and outsiders for DESTROYING their traditional life
system . They revolted against the foreigners and proved that tribals
could also fight for their rights .