Which was a main colonial cause of deforestation?

Correct answer: Gaining profit from timber and land

The direct answer is A: gaining profit from timber and land. Colonial governments commonly treated forests as economic resources. The chain is: valuable trees could be sold as timber; cleared land could be used for plantations, agriculture, railways or settlement; these activities produced revenue and supported colonial interests; therefore forests were cut for commercial gain. Option A is correct because it states both major motives, timber and land revenue or use. Option B is wrong because colonial policy generally restricted local access and exploited forests rather than declaring all forests sacred. Option C is too limited and does not explain cutting. Option D is wrong because colonial expansion often encouraged cultivation in selected areas rather than always stopping farming. Memory cue: colonial forest policy usually means control, revenue and commercial use.