DEVELOPMENT OF FOREST CONSERVAXCY. 105 



4. Development of Forest Consen-anei/. 



If such evidence as is now available can be relied on, the 

 greater part of India was in former times covered with dense 

 forests. In those days the country was probably more fruitful 

 and the climate less fierce than now. Subsequently, settlers 

 opened out the country along fertile valleys and streams, but 

 the destruction of the forests on a larger scale was done by 

 nomadic tribes which, moving from pasture to pasture, fired 

 alike hills and plains wherever they went. This lasted for 

 many centuries. With the advent of British rule, the destruc- 

 tion of the forests became more rapid than ever. The order 

 of the day then became " extension of cultivation at the 

 cost of the existing forests," a process which was carried on 

 for many years without any enquiry as to the ultimate effects. 

 To this was gradually added an increasing demand for timber 

 and pasture for rapidly multiplying herds of cattle which 

 roamed far and wide over the forests. To crown the edifice, 

 railways then came, and with their extension the forests dis- 

 appeared with greater rapidity than ever, partly on account of 

 the increased demands for timber and firewood used in con- 

 struction, and partly on account of the fresh impetus given to 

 cultivation along the lines. 



Ultimately, when failures to meet the demands for public 

 works were brought to notice, it was recognised that a grievous 

 mistake had been made in allowing the forests to be recklessly 

 destroyed. 



The question of forest conservancy in some parts of the 

 country had already attracted attention in the very beginning 

 of the 19th century, because diflticulty had been experienced 

 in providing the necessary timl^er for the Bombay dockyard 

 and other works. A Government timber agency was estab- 

 lished, but again abolished in 1823 in consequence of serious 

 complaints having been made against it. In 1843 ]Mr. Conolly, 

 Collector in Malabar, arose as a great advocate for the pro- 

 tection of the teak forests in that part of India, and he 



