Development of Forest Policy. 333 



In 1839-40 the goveriimeiit of the Bombay Presi- 

 dency stopped the cutting of Teak trees on government 

 property. In 1843 M. Connolly, Collector of Malabar, 

 in the Madras Presidency, began to plant Teak on a 

 large scale at Nilambm-. In 1847 Dr. Gibson was ap- 

 pointed Conservator of Forests in Bombaj'; from 1848 

 to 1856 Lieutenant (now General, C. S. I.) James 

 Michael conducted the government timber operations 

 in the Anamalai Teak forests (Madras), and made the 

 first recorded attempts to protect Indian forests from 

 injury by annual jungle fires. 



In 1856 Dr. Hugh Cleghorn was appointed Conserva- 

 tor of Forests in Madras. He checked the destructive 

 practice of temporary cultivation in the government 

 forests of that Presidency, a measure, which at first 

 was strongly opposed by the people, but his well- 

 known desire to promote native interests inspired the 

 rulers of the country with confidence, and finally his 

 measures were successful. 



Various attempts at some kind of regulation of the 

 exploitation by lumbermen were also made by the gen- 

 eral government, after various examinations and re- 

 ports, and in 1847 even a small and ineffective forest 

 department was organized. 



The annexation of the Province of Pegu in lower 

 Burma in 1852 introduced a new complication, and 

 proved the turning point in forestry matters. In this 

 province, the right to cut Teak had been reserved by 

 the native princes, and hence became a right of the 

 crown, but private lumbermen began to cut this timber, 

 and, after an investigation and report, it was decided 

 to take definite steps to regulate at least the use of 

 these valuable Teak forests. 



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