What is deforestation? How did cultivation expand rapidly during the colonial period?

The disappearance of forests is referred to as deforestation. Cultivation expanded rapidly during the colonial period in the following ways.

A. Production of commercial crops like sugar, wheat, Jute and cotton was encouraged by the British.

B. Large areas of forests, considered to be wilderness was brought under cultivation.

C. Large tracts of natural forests were also cleared to make way for tea, coffee and rubber plantations to meet Europe’s growing need for these commodities.