How were railways and plantations different as causes of deforestation?

Correct answer: Railways needed timber for sleepers and fuel, whereas plantations required cleared forest land for cultivation

Railway expansion created a huge demand for timber, especially for wooden sleepers placed under tracks and for fuel used by engines. In contrast, plantations of tea, coffee and rubber required large areas of natural forest to be cleared and converted into cultivation land. Thus, railways mainly increased the demand for timber, while plantations converted forest land into agricultural land. Exam tip: remember the contrast as “timber for sleepers” versus “clearing land for plantations.”