Why did the Wasteland Rules harm pastoralists?

Correct answer: Pastures began to be converted into cultivation

The direct answer is D: pastures began to be converted into cultivation. Wasteland Rules allowed colonial authorities to treat many grazing areas as land that should be brought under farming. Step by step, pasture was taken for cultivation; the area available for grazing became smaller; pastoralists had less space for seasonal movement; and animals faced shortage of fodder. Option D is correct because it states the central harmful change. Option A is wrong because the main effect was not an increase in animals; reduced grazing could make animal keeping harder. Option B is wrong because pastoralists were not forced to go to the sea. Option C is wrong because colonial controls commonly imposed or maintained taxes rather than ending them. Memory cue: wasteland policy meant more cultivation, less pasture, and greater pressure on pastoral life.