98 



EAST INDIA. 



of it is attached. The first of these maps was prepared by Sir 

 Dietrich Brandis in 1872 ; it has been further elaborated by 

 subsequent observations. The map now given is that contained 

 in Kibbentrops' " Forestry in British India," 1900. 



ABSTRACT SHOWING THE CLIMATE AND 



3. Forest Policy of the Government of India. 



In former times, certain forests were carefully protected as 

 game preserves for the pleasure of kings, princes and great 

 nobles. These areas were of small extent when compared with 

 the area of the country. The idea of preserving forests for 

 the supply of timber, fuel and other forest produce, or on 

 account of their indirect effects on climate, rainfall, the regula- 

 tion of moisture, the stability of the soil on sloping ground, 

 etc., is of modern origin. As will presently be shown, under the 

 policy of the Government of India, as developed during the 

 last fifty years, an area equal to 24 per cent, of the total area 

 of the country has been placed under the management of the 

 Forest Department; the question then arises, w'hether the 



