What happened to local cultivation during the process of forest transformation in Java?

Correct answer: Permission to cultivate forest land became restricted

The direct answer is A: permission to cultivate forest land became restricted. Colonial forest transformation in Java meant that the Dutch classified, surveyed, enclosed, and controlled forests for commercial purposes. As this control increased, local people could no longer freely use forest land for cultivation or follow older customary practices. Option A is correct because it describes the direct effect of forest laws and state control on local farming. Option B is wrong because cultivation did not become completely free; restrictions increased. Option C is wrong because not all forests were converted into farms. The colonial aim was often to reserve forests for timber and other commercial uses. Option D is wrong because local cultivation was clearly affected by new rules, loss of access, and control over land. The reasoning is: forests became state-controlled resources; local access was regulated; cultivation on forest land was limited. This also shows how forest policy affected food, livelihood, and village life, not only trees. Memory cue: colonial forest control usually meant less customary access, including less freedom to cultivate.