Why did colonial officials want to control forests?

Correct answer: To control timber and revenue

The direct answer is A: colonial officials wanted control over timber and revenue. Forests contained valuable wood for railways, ships, buildings and trade. The colonial government therefore made rules to take authority over forests, cut selected trees and collect income from forest products or land. Step by step: forests had useful resources; useful resources could be sold or used by the government; control over them brought political power and money. Option A is correct because it states both main purposes. Option B is impossible because trees cannot worship. Option C is unrelated because forest control was not intended to create seas. Option D is wrong because officials often cleared forests for cultivation rather than trying to stop farming everywhere. Remember: colonial forest policy usually means timber, revenue and administrative control.