Q. Consider the following statements with respect to the forest management in India in colonial period:

1. Deitrich Brandis was the first Inspector General of Forests in India.
2. A so-called concept of ‘scientific forestry’ was introduced in India during the colonial period.

Which of the above is / are correct?
Answer: Both 1 and 2
Notes: The British needed forests in order to build ships and railways. The British were worried that the use of forests by local people and the reckless felling of trees by traders would destroy forests. So, they decided to invite a German expert, Dietrich Brandis, for advice, and made him the first Inspector General of Forests in India. So, statement 1 is correct. Dietrich Brandis set up the Indian Forest Service in 1864 and helped formulate the Indian Forest Act of 1865. The Imperial Forest Research Institute was set up at Dehradun in 1906. The system they taught here was called 'scientific forestry'.In scientific forestry, natural forests which had lots of different types of trees were cut down. In their place, one type of tree was planted in straight rows. Forest officials surveyed the forests, estimated the area under different types of trees, and made working plans for forest management. They planned how much of the plantation area to cut every year. The area cut was then to be replanted so that it was ready to be cut again in some years. So, statement 2 is correct.

This question is part of 40000+ General Studies MCQ Series Course on GKToday Android app. Question Number: 312 in Modern World History in above course in App.