Short Notes on Why Forests are Affected by Wars

Both World War I and World War II had a major impact on forests. In India wars led to reckless cutting of forests to meet British war needs. In Java the Dutch followed a scorched earth policy to prevent logs of wood from falling into the hands of the advancing Japanese.

The forests during war times became a no man’s land and were subject to abundant plunder and destruction.

After Java fell into Japanese hands, the Japanese too exploited the forests for their ends.

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Many a local people took advantage of war situation and usurped forest lands and expanded cultivation.