Why Deforestation?

Every railway line needed wooden sleepers. Exam tip: connect rail expansion with timber demand.

Colonial rule viewed forests through economic interest. Exam tip: remember imperial interest.

Settled cultivation made tax collection and control easier. Exam tip: connect shifting cultivation with revenue control.

Deforestation destroys habitats of animals, birds and other organisms, affecting biodiversity and ecological balance. It also reduces access to fuel, fodder, food, timber and livelihood resources for forest-dependent communities. Therefore, option B correctly explains the impact on both environment and society. Option D is incorrect because many local communities depended on forests. Exam tip: mention both habitat loss and loss of livelihood resources.

Both ships and railways needed strong timber. Exam tip: remember combined causes of timber demand.

Forest departments increased government control over timber and forest land. Exam tip: remember the word control.

In the revenue system cultivable land was a source of income. Exam tip: remember land tax.

Economic profit played a major role in deforestation. Exam tip: write revenue timber and plantations.

For plantations, diverse natural forests were cleared to grow commercial crops such as tea, coffee, or rubber. Thus, land use shifted from locally useful forest resources to producing crops for the market and export. Grazing land or mixed food-crop cultivation was not the main purpose of plantations. Exam tip: link plantation agriculture with single commercial crops and export.

Tree roots hold soil particles together, while vegetation reduces the direct impact of raindrops and flowing water. When forests are cleared, the exposed soil becomes loose and can be carried away easily by rainwater or wind. Option B concerns an unsupported change in soil minerals, not the cause of erosion. Exam tip: remember that roots bind soil, so deforestation increases soil erosion.

Local communities obtained grass, leaves and other fodder for their animals from forests, and they grazed livestock in open forest areas. Deforestation reduced both grazing land and fodder sources, disrupting local grazing. Option C is incorrect because grazing was directly linked to forests. Exam tip: remember fodder, fuelwood and grazing as key rural uses of forests.

Settlements increased pressure on both forest land and resources. Exam tip: write the need for construction and land.

Deforestation was linked with several economic and administrative needs. Exam tip: remember grouped causes.

Trees were cut to meet railway and construction demand. Exam tip: connect contractors with timber demand.

Forests provide natural habitats, food, shelter and breeding places for plants, animals, birds, insects and microorganisms. When forests are cleared, these resources shrink, so populations may decline and some species may become extinct. Option B is incorrect because deforestation reduces, rather than increases, available habitat and resources. Exam tip: link loss of biodiversity directly to habitat loss.

The colonial administration collected land revenue from cultivated land. Therefore, clearing forests and converting them into agricultural fields was a way to increase revenue. Option D is the opposite of this idea, since expansion of cultivation generally increased land revenue. Exam tip: remember agricultural expansion and land revenue together as major colonial causes of deforestation.

Railway tracks needed huge numbers of durable wooden sleepers, so trees such as sal and teak were felled. Grazing was not the main railway demand. Exam tip: link railways with colonial commercial needs.

Plantations were made for market instead of local needs. Exam tip: connect plantations with local impact.

Colonial forest control was linked with economic interests. Exam tip: understand the difference between conservation and control.

Infrastructure expansion increased pressure on forests. Exam tip: connect development with resource use.