how did the new forest laws affect the forest dwellers?

The Forest Laws enforced by the British laid many restrictions on the villagers depended on the forests and the tribals alike.

The Forest Act of 1865 was amended in 1875 and the Forest Act of 1875 divided the forests into three categories: reserved, protected and village forests. The villagers could only collect produce from the village forests and not from the protected or reserved forests. The best forests were categorized as reserved forests and forests under threat of destruction were under the protected forests category. The natives were not allowed to collect forest produce like fire wood, honey, resin from these forests even for domestic use let only for commercial purposes. So, in deed this Act of 1875 was a curse for the native villagers.

The Forest Laws also forbade tribals from collecting forest produce and this was the means of livelihood for most tribals.Not only the adivasis were no match for the British in strength and power, there were no organised struggle protesting environmental issues. During the British, the struggle was localised and so it was put to an end with force.