*The disappearance of forests is referred to as Deforestation. It’ causes are:-**
Expansion of Agriculture : As population increased over the centuries and the demand for food went up , peasants extended the boundaries of cultivation, clearing forests and breaking new land.
Ship Building : By the early nineteenth century, oak forests in England were disappearing. This created a problem of timber supply for the Royal Navy. By the 1820 *, search parties were sent to explore the forest resources of India. Within a decade, trees were being felled on a massive scale and vast quantities of timber were being exported from India.
Expansion of Railways : The spread of railways from the 1850 * created a new demand. Railways were essential for colonial trade and for the movement of imperial troops. To run locomotives, wood was needed as fuel, and to lay railway lines sleepers were essential to hold the tracks together. Forests around the railway tracks fast started disappearing.
Setting up of plantations : Large areas of natural forests were also cleared to make way for tea, coffee and rubber plantations to meet Europe’ growing need for these commodities. The colonial government took over the forests, and gave vast areas to *** planters at cheap rates. These areas were enclosed and cleared of forests, and planted with tea or coffee.
