question_answer

Menion any four causes of deforestation? In which three categories, the forests were divided after the amendment of Forest Act in 1878? What was the effect of this amendment on the life of the villagers?

Answer:

 (a) The Forest Act in India was enacted in 1865. (b) (i) The 1878 Act divided forests into three categories; reserved, protected and village forests. The best forests were called 'reserved forests (ii) Villagers could not take anything from these forests even for their own use. For building a house or for fuel they could take wood from a protected or village forests. (c) Effect of this amendment on the life of the villagers was: The Forest Act created many problems for the villagers. Their daily practices - cutting wood for their houses, hunting, fishing and collecting fruits now become illegal. People were forced to steal wood from the forests and if caught were at the mercy of the forest guards Women who generally collected fuel wood were especially vulnerable. (vi) It was common for police constables and forest guards to harass people.