Page 89 - Understanding NCERT Histroy 09th

2. THE RISE OF COMMERCIAL FORESTRY
l The British were apprehensive due to reckless destruction of forests. So they invited
Dietrich Brandis, a German forest expert to India and appointed him the first Inspector
General of Forests in India.
Goyal Brothers Prakashan
l Brandis at once realised the need for rules and regulations to manage forests.
l Brandis set up Indian Forest Service in 1864 and helped in framing Indian Forest Act

of 1865. The Imperial Forest Research Institute was set up at Dehradun in 1906 where
scientific forestry was taught to the students.
l In scientific forestry, natural forests having different types of trees were cut down and in
their place, one variety of tree was planted in straight rows. A specific area of plantation
area was cut annually and in its place, trees were replanted to be ready to cut again after
some years.
l The Forest Act was passed in 1865 and amended in 1878 and 1927. The first Act divided
forests into three categories — (i) reserved (ii) protected and (iii) village forests.
l The best forests were put in reserved category. It was totally out of bound for villagers
who could claim timber and fuel from forests of other two categories.

Activity (Page no. 83)

Q. If you were the Government of India in 1862 and responsible for supplying the
railways with sleepers and fuel on such a large scale, what were the steps you would
have taken?
Ans. I would made certain rules to be followed by Contractors. Reckless felling of trees would
have to be punished. Steps would be taken for regeneration of trees.

2.1 How were the Lives of People Affected
l Villagers wanted forests having many type of trees to take care of their needs of fuel,
fodder, leaves. The foresters wanted trees that could yield hard wood, were tall and
straight, thus promoting teak and sal.
l Forest people use a variety of forest products — roots, leaves, fruits and tubers. Fruits
and tubers for eating, herbs for medicine, wood for making agricultural implements,
bamboo to make fences, baskets, umbrellas, leaves to make disposable plates; oil for
cooking and lighting lamps can be obtained from mahua trees.
l Forest Act cut off people from forests. All their daily activities of collecting things,
hunting, fishing, cutting wood were banned. Still, people entered forest stealthily by
bribing forest guards. Women who earlier collected fuel wood were reduced to penury.

Activity (Page no. 86)

Q. Children living around forest areas can often identify hundreds of species of trees
and plants. How many species of trees can you name?
Ans. Neem, Mango, Banyan, Peepal, Tamarind, Bamboo.

H-80 History Class IX