Analyse any four reasons for the depletion of forest resources in India.
- Over-population in third world countries is often cited as the cause of environmental degradation.
- The greatest damage inflicted on Indian forests was during the colonial period due to the expansion of the railways, agriculture, commercial and scientific forestry and mining activities.
- Agricultural expansion continues to be one of the major causes of depletion of forest resources.
- Large-scale development projects have also contributed significantly to the loss of forests.
- Mining is another important factor behind deforestation. The Buxa Tiger Reserve in West Bengal is seriously threatened by the ongoing dolomite mining.
- Many foresters and environmentalists hold the view that the greatest degrading factors behind the depletion of forest resources are grazing and fuel-wood collection. the fact remains that a substantial part of the fuel-fodder demand is met by lopping rather than by felling entire trees.