Forest Policy and Indigenous People in Colonial and Post Colonial Period
CHAPTER-2
FOREST POLICY AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN COLONIAL AND POST
COLONIAL PERIOD
2.0 Introduction
Forest policy and management has been a subject of considerable debate and conflict ever since the British established a Forest Department and enacted legislations related to forestry in the 19th century. The imperial needs dictated the British interests in the Indian forest resources, which resulted in the establishment of control over forest resources. In the process, at least two crucial aspects of forest management were ignored.
First, the well-established traditional systems of conservation and sustainable use, and second, the critical ecological and social role that forests played (Ashish Kothari 1994).
The colonial system of forest management was continued even after 1947 with little modifications, emphasizing revenue generation and commercial exploitation, while its policing orientation excluded villagers who had the most longstanding claim on forest resources. The tribals especially were confronted with the vagaries of forest management that continuously eroded their life-styles and simultaneously the assertion of State primacy over natural resources deprived them of an important means of subsistence(Guha
1983).
In this context, an attempt is made to review colonial and post-colonial forest policies by examining the debate on the ownership of forests between British and Indian colonial officers, especially the officials of the Madras Presidency who happened to be more articulate at that time. The first section, deals with the relation between tribals and forests, the second section explains the evolution of State control over forest resources.
The third section is on colonial forest policy and on the process of establishing colonial control over natural resources, the fourth section focuses on the forest policies of independent India and on the changes in forest management and the last section contains conclusions. 14
2.1.
FOREST POLICY AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN COLONIAL AND POST
COLONIAL PERIOD
2.0 Introduction
Forest policy and management has been a subject of considerable debate and conflict ever since the British established a Forest Department and enacted legislations related to forestry in the 19th century. The imperial needs dictated the British interests in the Indian forest resources, which resulted in the establishment of control over forest resources. In the process, at least two crucial aspects of forest management were ignored.
First, the well-established traditional systems of conservation and sustainable use, and second, the critical ecological and social role that forests played (Ashish Kothari 1994).
The colonial system of forest management was continued even after 1947 with little modifications, emphasizing revenue generation and commercial exploitation, while its policing orientation excluded villagers who had the most longstanding claim on forest resources. The tribals especially were confronted with the vagaries of forest management that continuously eroded their life-styles and simultaneously the assertion of State primacy over natural resources deprived them of an important means of subsistence(Guha
1983).
In this context, an attempt is made to review colonial and post-colonial forest policies by examining the debate on the ownership of forests between British and Indian colonial officers, especially the officials of the Madras Presidency who happened to be more articulate at that time. The first section, deals with the relation between tribals and forests, the second section explains the evolution of State control over forest resources.
The third section is on colonial forest policy and on the process of establishing colonial control over natural resources, the fourth section focuses on the forest policies of independent India and on the changes in forest management and the last section contains conclusions. 14
2.1.