Tag: forest society and colonialism

Quizzes (10) Questions (25)

Questions Related to forest society and colonialism

Multiple choice history impact of colonisation in india deforestation and rise of commercial forestry impact of colonisation on forests forest society and colonialism

Who wrote the book 'The Forests of India' in the year 1923?

  1. David Spurr

  2. E.P. Stebbing

  3. Verrier Elvin

  4. John Middleton
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Edward Percy Stebbing was a pioneering British forester and forest entomologist in India. He was among the first to warn of desertification and desiccation and wrote on "The Forests of India". In 1923, he wrote of the "desert whose power is incalculable and whose silent and almost invisible approach must be difficult to estimate."

Multiple choice history impact of colonisation in india deforestation and rise of commercial forestry impact of colonisation on forests forest society and colonialism

The Forest Act of 1878 divided forests into ______________.

  1. reserved and protected forests

  2. protected and village forests

  3. bio-sphere reserves and wild life sanctuaries

  4. reserved, protected and village forests
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation
The 1878 Act divided forests into three categories: reserved, protected and village forests. The best forests were called ‘reserved forests’. Villagers could not take anything from these forests, even for their own use. For house building or fuel, they could take wood from protected or village forests.
Multiple choice history impact of colonisation in india deforestation and rise of commercial forestry impact of colonisation on forests forest society and colonialism

The system of scientific forestry stands for:

  1. System whereby the local farmers were allowed to cultivate temporarily within a plantation

  2. System of cutting old trees and planting new ones

  3. Division of forest into three categories

  4. Disappearance of forests
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

In scientific forestry, natural forests which had lots of different types of trees were cut down. In their place, one type of tree was planted in straight rows. 

Multiple choice history impact of colonisation in india deforestation and rise of commercial forestry impact of colonisation on forests forest society and colonialism

What was the policy followed by the British in India towards forests during the First and the Second World Wars?

  1. The forest department cut trees freely to meet British war needs

  2. Cutting of trees was strictly prohibited for everyone, including the British

  3. More and more trees were planted to give employment to Indians

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The impact of the First and Second World War on forests was tremendous. In India, the forest department cut trees freely to meet British War needs. The British needed to strengthen their Navy and timber was needed to build warships.

Multiple choice history impact of colonisation in india deforestation and rise of commercial forestry impact of colonisation on forests forest society and colonialism

What is the goal of governments across Asia and Africa since the 1980s?

  1. Conservation of forests

  2. Collection of timber

  3. Settling people in forest areas

  4. Destroying old forests and growing new ones
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Since the 1980s, governments across Asia and Africa have begun to see that scientific forestry and the policy of keeping forest communities away from forests has resulted in many conflicts. Conservation of forests rather than collecting timber has become a more important goal.

Multiple choice history impact of colonisation in india deforestation and rise of commercial forestry impact of colonisation on forests forest society and colonialism

Why did the government decide to ban shifting cultivation?

  1. To grow trees for railway timber

  2. When a forest was burnt, there was danger of destroying valuable timber

  3. Difficulties for the government to calculate taxes

  4. All the above reasons
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation
 They felt that land which was used for cultivation every few years could not grow trees for railway timber. When a forest was burnt, there was the added danger of the flames spreading and burning valuable timber. Shifting cultivation also made it harder for the government to calculate taxes. Therefore, the government decided to ban shifting cultivation. 

Multiple choice history impact of colonisation in india deforestation and rise of commercial forestry impact of colonisation on forests forest society and colonialism

Which of the following species of trees were suited for building ships and railways?

  1. Sal and Semur

  2. Teak and Mahogany

  3. Rosewood and Sal

  4. Teak and Sal
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Historically, Teak and Sal were the most sought-after woods for colonial railway sleepers and shipbuilding due to their durability, resistance to rot, and strength.

Multiple choice history impact of colonisation in india deforestation and rise of commercial forestry impact of colonisation on forests forest society and colonialism

By ______, there were almost 8,000 km of railway lines in India.

  1. 1869

  2. 1910

  3. 1875

  4. 1915
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Britain's major contribution to India's economic development throughout the era of crown rule was the railroad network that spread so swiftly across the subcontinent after 1858, when there were barely 200 miles (320 km) of track in all of India. By 1869 more than 5,000 miles (8,000 km) of steel track had been completed by British railroad companies, and by 1900 there were some 25,000 miles (40,000 km) of rail laid.

Multiple choice history impact of colonisation in india deforestation and rise of commercial forestry impact of colonisation on forests forest society and colonialism

Why did colonists need durable timber?

  1. To build ships

  2. To construct bridges

  3. For furniture

  4. To build beautiful homes
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

By the early 19th century, oak forests in England were disappearing. This created a problem of timber supply from the Royal Navy. English ships could not be built without a regular supply of strong and durable timber. Imperial power could not be protected without ships. Therefore by the 1820's, search parties were sent to explore the forest resources of India.