How did forest laws affect the timetable of pastoral life?

Correct answer: They could decide when and how long pastoralists stayed in an area

Forest laws changed not only where pastoralists could go but also when they could go there and how long they could stay. Entry into reserved forests often required permits, and officials could set dates, routes, or limits on grazing. These rules interfered with movement that had earlier followed rainfall, pasture growth, and seasonal conditions. Pastoralists therefore had to adjust their traditional timetable to official permissions rather than relying only on nature and customary routes.

Option A is correct because it describes official control over the timing and duration of stays. The other options do not address a timetable: laws could not stop seasons from changing, keeping animals without fodder is not a policy benefit, and journeys did not become maritime. The central idea is that colonial regulation disrupted the rhythm of seasonal migration.