“Scientific forestry practised by Dutch brought many miseries for the villagers in Java” Analyse the important features of Scientific forestry regarding the statement.
The Dutch enacted forest laws in Java in the 19th century, restricting villagers access to forests. The features of scientific forestry practised by the Dutch were as follows :
- Wood could only be cut for specified purposes like making boats or constructing houses under close supervision.
- Villagers were punished for grazing cattle in the forest.
- Transporting wood without a permit or travelling on forest roads with horsecarts or cattle was also not allowed.
- Initially, rents were imposed on land being cultivated in the forest. Then some villages were exempted from rent if they worked collectively to provide free labour and buffaloes for cutting and transporting timber. This was known as the ‘blandongdiensten’ system.
- Later, instead of rent exemption, forest villagers were given small wages, but their right to cultivate forest land was restricted.