2 TBOE WORK OF THE FOREST DEPARTMENT IN INDIA. 



as early as 1827 Dr. Wallich reported on the forest resources of 

 Tenasserim, while about 1837 Dr. Heifer reported on those of 

 Malabar : in 1847 Dr. Gibson was appointed Conservator of 

 Forests in Bombay, while in 1856 Dr. Cleghorn was appointed 

 to a similar post in Madras, and both these officers submitted 

 valuable reports on the forests in their charge. During this 

 period the name of Mr. ConoUy, Collector of Malabar, stands 

 out conspicuous. This officer, keenly alive to the dangers 

 attending the depletion of the forests in his district and anxious 

 to ensure the future local supply of teak timber, founded in 1842 

 the now famous Nilambur teak plantations, which have been 

 regularly extended to the present day and which form a living 

 monument to their founder and to those who have had a share 

 in the work of their extension. 



The year 1855 marked the commencement of a new era in the 

 history of forestry in India, for it was then that Lord 

 Dalhousie laid down a definite and far-sighted forest policy. 

 This policy was prompted by a report submitted by Dr. 

 McClelland after an extended tour in the province of Pegu 

 shortly after its annexation in 1852, in which attention was 

 drawn to the necessity for saving the valuable teak forests of 

 that province from destruction. The officer selected to estab- 

 lish forest administration on a sound basis was Dr. Brandis, 

 who was appointed Superintendent of Forests in Pegu in 1856, 

 the charge being extended to Martaban and Tenasserim in the 

 following year. Dr. Brandis' appointment marks the dawn of 

 scientific forestry in India. 



Further progress was delayed for a time by the Mutiny, but 

 from 1860 onwards forest organization was rapidly extended 

 to the other provinces. The earlier years of forest administra- 

 tion were beset with difficulties, which is not surprising con- 

 sidering that the Department was charged with the unpopular 

 duty of protecting the heritage of nature from the rapacity of 

 mankind, a duty which naturally roused the antagonism of 

 the agricultural population of India. Brandis' early struggles 

 in Burma are but one instance of the contest against greed, 

 ignorance and short-sightedness, for his efforts at introducing 

 sound principles of organization and protection met with a 

 storm of opposition from all sides, and particularly from 



