Why is linking deforestation only with population growth historically weak?

Correct answer: Because colonial revenue policies and the demands of railways, shipbuilding, and plantations also drove deforestation.

Deforestation cannot be explained by population growth alone. Colonial authorities required timber and land for railway sleepers, shipbuilding, agricultural expansion, and plantations such as tea and coffee. Forests were therefore cleared as sources of revenue and commercial resources. Option B wrongly denies the link between population and demand for agricultural land, while C and D ignore the major colonial impact on forests. Exam tip: for deforestation questions, consider economic, administrative, and transport-related causes together.