Browsing by Author "Oosthoek, K. Jan"

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Colonial Origins of Scientific Forestry in Britain
(2007) Oosthoek, K. Jan
"This paper traces the origins of modern British forestry in the colonial context, mainly India,and how it was introduced through estate forestry and the universities in Scotland. It will discuss how British forestry became based on scientific principles developed to counter the negative effects of deforestation in continental Europe. Meanwhile in the colonies botanists and other scientists witnessed the negative effects of the overexploitation of forests and the disappearance of vegetation cover. This gave rise to the fear for local or even continental climate change, desiccation, species extinction and soil erosion. To counter these negative effects and a looming timber shortage the Indian colonial Government created in 1864 the Indian Forest Service. It employed German foresters to help set up the service because of their expertise in scientific forestry. Forest workers and officers were sent to France to be trained at the Imperial forestry school in Nancy. It was in the colonial context that the fears raised by colonial scientists amalgamated with the continental European forestry practices. These ideas were brought back from India by foresters returning to Britain, where it provided the fundament on which modern British forestry developed. The continental/colonial forestry practices and theories formed the basis for the curricula of forestry education in late 19th century in Britain."
Environmental History: Between Science and Philosophy
(2009) Oosthoek, K. Jan
"This essay is divided into two parts. The first and smallest part explores what environmental history is and some or its roots. The second part deals with some of the issues in environmental history and explores the intellectual and philosophical background behind our ecological crisis. This looks in the way people though about the natural world around them during particular different historical periods. But environmental history is not solely an intellectual history and is also about the impact of humankind on the natural world and the influence of the natural world on human history. The final part of this essay will therefore look at the development of agriculture and the impact on the landscape."
A Walk Through the Forest
(1999) Oosthoek, K. Jan
"In the next 20 minutes I will take you on a walk through the forest. The forest we visit is a modern one. Walking through it we notice a boring monotony of single tree species densely planted in rows and organised in dark green patches that extent for miles in all directions. Disgusted of this monotony we leave the forest and decide to write a letter to the Forestry Commission to complain about their landscape wrecking practice of forestry. In doing this we are not alone."