Forest Fires
New study: more than 1.5 million die each year from wild/bush fire pollution
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Mains level: Challenges due to wildfire;
Why in the News?
A study published in The Lancet revealed that pollution from landscape fires, including agricultural burning in northern India during winters, may have caused over 1.2 lakh deaths annually in India between 2000 and 2019.
What is Wildfire and Its Types?
- Wildfires are uncontrolled fires that burn in natural landscapes, including forests, grasslands, and savannas. They can occur due to natural causes, such as lightning strikes, or human activities, including agricultural burning and land clearing.
- Types of Wildfires
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- Forest Fires: These occur in wooded areas and can spread rapidly due to dry conditions and strong winds.
- Grassland Fires: Also known as prairie fires, these occur in grasslands and can be beneficial for ecosystem regeneration but are destructive if uncontrolled.
- Vegetation Fires: These include fires that burn through shrublands and other types of vegetation, often exacerbated by drought conditions.
- Agricultural Burning: A common practice in many regions, particularly in northern India during winters, where farmers burn crop stubble to clear fields for new planting. This practice significantly contributes to air pollution.
What are the Global and Local Impacts of Landscape Fire Pollution?
Global Impact:
- Death Toll: A recent study published in The Lancet estimates that globally, landscape fires are responsible for over 1.53 million deaths annually due to air pollution, with the majority occurring in low- and middle-income countries.
- Health Risks: The study highlights that approximately 450,000 deaths each year are linked to cardiovascular diseases and 220,000 to respiratory diseases caused by fine particulate matter (PM2.5) released from these fires.
- Geographical Disparities: The highest mortality rates from fire-related air pollution are found in countries like China, the Democratic Republic of Congo, India, Indonesia, and Nigeria.
Local Impact (India):
- Annual Deaths: In India alone, it is estimated that landscape fires contributed to about 2.55 million deaths from respiratory and cardiovascular diseases between 2000 and 2019, averaging over 120,000 deaths per year.
- Seasonal Pollution: During winter months (October to December), northern India experiences severe air quality issues due to agricultural burning combined with cooler temperatures that trap pollutants close to the ground.
- Socio-Economic Factors: The study indicates that deaths caused by wildfires are four times higher in low-income countries compared to high-income nations. Lower socio-economic regions face greater health risks from fire-related air pollution.
What are the steps taken by the Government to the wildfire?
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Way forward:
- Strengthen Community-Based Management: Enhance capacity building, training, and incentivization for local communities through Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) and Eco-Development Committees (EDCs) to actively prevent and manage wildfires.
- Leverage Technology and Research: Implement advanced monitoring systems like satellite-based fire detection and promote research on fire-resistant vegetation to mitigate the impact of wildfires and associated air pollution.
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Forest Fires
Uttarakhand Forest Fires
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Forest Fires as per FSI report
Mains level: NA
Why in the News?
Last week, three instances of forest fire were reported from the major forest belts in Uttarakhand.
- The severity of the situation has prompted the deployment of Indian Air Force personnel and Mi-17 choppers, engaged in the critical operation of dousing the flames using the Bambi Bucket Method.
Causes of Wildfire:
- Firstly, the general major causes of forest fires in Uttarakhand are continued dry weather and lack of moisture in the forests.
- Secondly, according to the Forest Research Institute (FRI, 2019), 95% of forest fires are attributed to human activities.
- The common human-induced causes include – Grazers setting fire to dry grass, Slash-and-burn agriculture, Unattended campfires, and Intentional arson.
Uttarakhand’s Forest Vulnerability:
- As per the latest report from the Forest Survey of India (FSI), the Recorded Forest Area (RFA) in the State is 38,000 sq km of which 26,547 sq km is Reserved Forest, 9,885 sq km is Protected Forest, and 1,568 sq km is Unclassed Forests.
- Highly flammable Chir Pine trees, covering extensive areas, increase the fire risk.
- This risk is compounded by prolonged dry spells and excess biomass accumulation.
- Additionally, the proximity of villages facilitates anthropogenic activities such as forest clearance and grazing.
Forest Fires in India: Recent Statistics
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Mitigation Strategies
- Localized Initiatives:
- Effective measures to mitigate forest fire risks include controlled burning, biomass removal, prescribed burns, and enhanced surveillance using drones.
- Community engagement and proactive involvement, as demonstrated in Kerala, provide valuable insights for forest fire management.
- Government Initiatives:
- The government has introduced measures such as a satellite-based fire alert system by the Forest Survey of India, aiding in early detection and response efforts.
- Forest staff utilize various techniques, including counter-fires and fire beaters, to contain and manage forest fires effectively.
Wildfires Mitigating Strategies:
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) website distinguishes between two types of fire lines:
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PYQ:[2020] Examine the status of forest resources of India and its resultant impact on climate change. |
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Forest Fires
Fighting forest fires with a plan and community cooperation
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: trend in forest fires in states
Mains level: Region more prone to forest Fire and factores behind the forest fire
Why in the news?
The forest staff across the Kerala State are on alert with the onslaught of summer, with temperatures reaching as high as 40-41 degrees Centigrade, unusual for this time.
Forest Fires in Kerala
- Kerala records relatively fewer forest fires compared to several other states in India, including Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, and Maharashtra.
- Kerala’s forest cover, occupying 29.65% of the land, is dominated by deciduous and semi-deciduous woods that are drying up, especially on the forest periphery because of it Forest staff in Kerala are on alert
- Kerala reported 163 wildfire incidents since January, resulting in the burning of 230 hectares of forest, which is less compared to previous years.
- Global Forest Watch data indicates 97 VIIRS(Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suit) fire alerts in Kerala between March 15 and 22, with only 5.2% of them classified as high-confidence alerts.Fires were responsible for 0.33% forest cover loss in Kerala between 2001 and 2022 according to Global Forest Watch.
What is the frequency of forest fires in India?
- Escalation Of forest Fire : Forest fire season in India typically spans from November to June, during which hundreds of thousands of small and large fires occur annually. The frequency of fires tends to escalate from February onwards as summer approaches.
- forest Fires as per (ISFR) : In its 2021 report, the biennial India State of Forest Report (ISFR) released by the Forest Survey of India (FSI) indicates that 35.47% of the forest cover is classified as fire-prone areas.
Region more prone to forest Fire
- Fires of severe magnitude occur frequently in dry deciduous forests, whereas evergreen, semi-evergreen, and montane temperate forests are relatively less susceptible to fires.
- During the November to June period, the forests in Northeast India, Odisha, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Uttarakhand face the highest risk of fires.For example in 2021, a string of forest fires occurred in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, the Nagaland-Manipur border, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat, including within wildlife sanctuaries.
- In 2024 forest Fires: According to data from the Forest Survey of India (FSI), Mizoram reported the highest number of forest fires (3,738), followed by Manipur (1,702), Assam (1,652), Meghalaya (1,252), and Maharashtra (1,215).
Reason behind the forest fires in India
The majority of forest fires in India are ignited by human activities, including:
- Agricultural Burning: Farmers often use fire to clear land for cultivation or to manage crop residues, leading to accidental fires spreading into nearby forests.For example Jhum (slash and burn cultivation)
- Intentional Arson: Deliberate setting of fires for various reasons, such as land grabbing, hunting, or retaliatory actions.
- Carelessness: Unattended campfires, discarded cigarettes, or burning of waste materials can spark fires.
- Climate Conditions: Dry and hot weather conditions during the summer months create favorable conditions for the rapid spread of fires. .For example forest fires has worsen due to climate change as per UNEP
Plan for Fighting forest Fires
- Early Detection: Implement systems for early detection of forest fires, such as fire watchtowers, aerial surveillance, and remote sensing technologies like drones and satellites.
- Rapid Response: Develop well-trained and equipped firefighting teams capable of swift response to contain fires in their early stages before they escalate.
- Controlled Burns: Conduct controlled burns during cooler and wetter months to remove excess vegetation and reduce the risk of large-scale wildfires during dry seasons.
- Firebreaks: Create and maintain firebreaks by clearing vegetation along strategic points to halt the spread of fires.
- Community Involvement: Educate local communities about fire prevention and train them in firefighting techniques. Encourage community participation in fire management efforts.
- Equipment and Infrastructure: Ensure availability and proper maintenance of firefighting equipment such as hoses, pumps, bulldozers, and firefighting aircraft.
Conclusion
Forest fires in India, exacerbated by climate conditions, pose significant threats. Kerala’s proactive measures and community involvement highlight effective strategies for prevention and control, crucial in mitigating the increasing frequency of fires nationwide.
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Forest Fires
Forest Fires in the Nilgiris
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Forests in India; Location
Mains level: Forests in India; Forest Fires
Why in the news?
Forest fires have been ongoing in the Coonoor forest range of the Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu for the past week.
Context:
- The Indian Air Force has recently joined the firefighting operations led by the state forest department.
- A Mi-17 V5 helicopter has been deployed to conduct numerous Bambi Bucket operations, delivering approximately 16,000 liters of water to extinguish the fires.
What are Forest Fires/Wildfires?
Forest fires, also known as wildfires, are uncontrolled fires that occur in forests, grasslands, or other wild areas. These fires can spread rapidly, fueled by dry vegetation, high temperatures, low humidity, and strong winds.
There are three types of Forest Fires:
- Surface Fires: These fires burn along the forest floor, consuming vegetation and leaf litter. Surface fires are typically less intense and move relatively slowly compared to other types of wildfires. They are often caused by natural factors like lightning strikes or human activities such as campfires.
- Ground Fires: Ground fires occur beneath the surface of the forest floor, burning through layers of organic matter like peat and roots. These fires can smolder for extended periods, producing significant heat and damage to the soil. Ground fires are often difficult to detect and extinguish, posing a long-term threat to forest ecosystems.
- Crown Fires: Crown fires are the most severe type of wildfire, burning through the upper canopy of trees. These fires spread rapidly, driven by strong winds and dry conditions, and can cause extensive damage to forested areas. Crown fires are challenging to control and extinguish, posing significant risks to both property and lives.
What is the frequency of Forest Fires in India?
- Period of Fires in India–
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- April-May are usually the worst fire months across the country.
- June to November is considered to be forest fire season in India, with hundreds of thousands of small and large fires burning every year.
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- Affected areas in India-
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- According to the 2019 India State of Forest Report (ISFR) published by the Forest Survey of India (FSI) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, over 36% of India’s forest cover was susceptible to frequent fires.
- Approximately 4% of the forest cover was categorized as extremely prone to fire, while an additional 6% was classified as very highly fire-prone.
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- Most Forest Fire Regions-
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- As per the FSI, dry deciduous forests are more susceptible to severe fires, whereas evergreen, semi-evergreen, and montane temperate forests exhibit lower susceptibility to fires.
- Northeast India, Odisha, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Uttarakhand are identified as the regions most susceptible to forest fires
- During March 2023, extensive bushfires erupted in Goa, prompting an inquiry into their possible human origins.
- In 2021, a series of forest fires occurred in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, the Nagaland-Manipur border, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat, encompassing several wildlife sanctuaries.
Incidents of Forest Fires in 2024
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- During the past week, Mizoram reported the highest number of forest fires, totaling 3,738, followed by Manipur with 1,702, Assam with 1,652, Meghalaya with 1,252, and Maharashtra with 1,215.
- Forest fires have been increasing since early March along the:
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- Konkan belt in Maharashtra,
- South-coastal Gujarat along Gir Somnath and Porbandar,
- Southern Rajasthan and adjoining south-western districts of Madhya Pradesh,
- Coastal and interior Odisha, and adjoining Jharkhand.
- Forest Fires in South India– Certain forest areas in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are susceptible to fires.
- However, as per the FSI, forests in southern India, characterized by mainly evergreen or semi-evergreen vegetation, are relatively less prone to fires. Nonetheless, Tamil Nadu has witnessed wildfires in its forests in recent years.
What are the reasons behind Forest Fires in 2024?
- Highest Temperature: February 2024 was exceptionally hot over Southern India, the hottest since 1901, with January ranking as the fifth warmest in over a century.
- Early build-up of heat load: Recorded maximum, minimum, and mean temperatures have remained above normal over the southern states for the past two months, leading to an early build-up of heat load in the region well before the onset of the summer season.
- Excess Heat Factor (EHF): The IMD has warned of the significantly higher-than-normal prevalence of EHF over western Andhra Pradesh and neighboring Karnataka. EHF predicts the likelihood of a heatwave over a region, with maximum temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius, unusual for mid-March.
- Mild Aridity: In the absence of rain and prevailing high temperatures, the IMD has classified almost all districts of southern India under mild aridity.
- Climatic Conditions: High aridity, above-normal day temperatures, clear sky conditions, and calm winds during the early phase of the summer season contribute to the spike in forest fire incidents in southern India this year.
Suggestive measures to address Forest Fires:
- Prevention: Implementing fire prevention measures such as creating firebreaks, clearing vegetation around vulnerable areas, and enforcing restrictions on activities that can cause fires.
- Early Detection: Installing and maintaining fire detection systems including lookout towers, satellite monitoring, and automated sensors to detect fires early. And Training and equipping forest rangers and firefighters with the skills and tools needed to identify and report fires promptly.
- Rapid Response: Establishing communication networks to coordinate response efforts among firefighting agencies, emergency services, and other stakeholders. Strategies Pre-positioning firefighting equipment and resources in strategic locations to facilitate rapid deployment.
Conclusion: Forest fires, prevalent in India, pose significant threats to ecosystems and communities. Climatic factors exacerbate the situation. Urgent measures including prevention, early detection, and rapid response are essential to mitigate these risks and safeguard our forests.
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Forest Fires
Forest fire management for positive sustainable forest growth
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: National Action Plan on Forest Fires
Mains level: environment conservation
Context
- Forest fires are becoming more common and wildfires are destroying nearly twice as much tree cover globally as they did in 2001.
Why in news?
- Climate change is driving more intense and widespread forest fire by fuelling more extreme heat and deepening drought, which dries out forests.
How to define forest fire?
- A wildfire, forest fire, bushfire, wildland fire or rural fire is an unplanned, uncontrolled and unpredictable fire in an area of combustible vegetation starting in rural and urban areas.
What causes forest fires?
- Human activities: Forest fires can be caused by a number of natural causes, but officials say many major fires in India are triggered mainly by human activities.
- Climate change: Emerging studies link climate change to rising instances of fires globally, especially the massive fires of the Amazon forests in Brazil and in Australia in the last two years. Fires of longer duration, increasing intensity, higher frequency and highly inflammable nature are all being linked to climate change.
- Season: In India, wildfires are most commonly reported during March and April, when the ground has large quantities of dry wood, logs, dead leaves, stumps, dry grass and weeds that can make forests easily go up in flames if there is a trigger.
- Natural reasons: Under natural circumstances, extreme heat and dryness, friction created by rubbing of branches with each other also have been known to initiate fire.
Key fact
7.4 million acres of forest are getting burnt annually now an area roughly the size of Belgium.
What factors make forest fires a concern?
- Carbon emission: They act as a sink, reservoir and source of carbon.
- Livelihood loss: In India, with 1.70 lakh villages in close proximity to forests (Census 2011), the livelihood of several crores of people is dependent on fuelwood, bamboo, fodder, and small timber.
- Destruction of animals’ habitat: Heat generated during the fire destroys animal habitats. Soil quality decreases with the alteration in their compositions.
- Soil degradation: Soil moisture and fertility, too, is affected. Thus forests can shrink in size. The trees that survive fire often remain stunted and growth is severely affected.
Measures to curb Forest fires
1) National Action Plan on wild fires
- The MoEFCC has prepared a National Action Plan on wild fire in 2018 after several rounds of consultation with all states and UTs.
- The objective of this plan is to minimize forest fires by informing, enabling and empowering forest fringe communities and incentivizing them to work in tandem with the State Forest Departments.
- The plan also intends to substantially reduce the vulnerability of forests across diverse forest ecosystems in the country against fire hazards, enhance capabilities of forest personnel and institutions in fighting fires and swift recovery subsequent to fire incidents.
2) Forest Fire Prevention and Management scheme
- The MoEFCC provides wildfire prevention and management measures under the Centrally Sponsored Forest Fire Prevention and Management (FPM) scheme.
- The FPM is the only centrally funded program specifically dedicated to assist the states in dealing with forest fires.
- The FPM replaced the Intensification of Forest Management Scheme (IFMS) in 2017. By revamping the IFMS, the FPM has increased the amount dedicated for forest fire work.
- Funds allocated under the FPM are according to the 90:10 ratio of central to state funding in the Northeast and Western Himalayan regions and 60:40 ratio for all other states.
- Nodal officers for forest fire prevention and control have been appointed in each state.
Way forward
- Awareness should be created among the villagers residing near the forests with respect to the long-term ill effects of forest fires.
- Measures to prevent wildfires have to be taken before summer season when fires are prevalent.
- Local people should be given skills to use online portals or mobile apps in order to monitor the forests for fires and inform forest authorities regarding the same.
Mains question
Q. Climate change is driving more intense and widespread forest fires by fueling more extreme heat and deepening drought. Why forest fires are cause of concern? Discuss our preparedness level for the same in the above context.
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Forest Fires
Places in news: Sariska Tiger Reserve
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Sariskta TR
Mains level: Forest fires
A massive fire has broken out in the Sariska Tiger Reserve and Air Force helicopters equipped with water sprays are battling to bring it under control.
Sariska Tiger Reserve
- Sariska Tiger Reserve is a tiger reserve in Alwar district, Rajasthan.
- It stretches over an area of 881 sq km comprising scrub-thorn arid forests, dry deciduous forests, grasslands, and rocky hills.
- This area was a hunting preserve of the Alwar state and was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1958.
- It was given the status of a tiger reserve making it a part of India’s Project Tiger in 1978.
- It is the first reserve in the world with successfully relocated tigers.
- It is a part of the Aravalli Range and the Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous forests eco-region.
Existential threats
- It is rich in mineral resources, such as copper.
- In spite of the Supreme Court’s 1991 ban on mining in the area, marble mining continues to threaten the environment.
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Forest Fires
Fire Ready Formula by UNEP
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: UNEP’s Fire Ready Formula
Mains level: Wildfires prevention
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has called on global governments to adopt a new ‘Fire Ready Formula,’ as it warned that incidences of wildfires would rise in the future.
What is the Fire Ready Formula?
- The new formula envisages that 66 per cent of spending be devoted to planning, prevention, preparedness and recovery.
- The remaining 34 per cent can be spent on response.
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New “Fire Ready Formula” focuses on Planning and Prevention |
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| Serial No | Budget item | Percentage share of the total on wildfire management recommended |
| 1 | Planning | 1 % |
| 2 | Prevention | 32 % |
| 3 | Preparedness | 13 % |
| 4 | Response | 34 % |
| 5 | Recovery | 20 % |
Why need such a formula?
- The UNEP report projected that the number of wildfires is likely to increase by up to 14 per cent by 2030.
- Integrated wildfire management was key to adapting to current and future changes in global wildfire risk, the UNEP.
- There is a need to invest more in fire risk reduction, work with local communities and strengthen global commitment to fight climate change.
- Achieving and sustaining adaptive land and fire management requires a combination of policies, a legal framework and incentives that encourage appropriate land and fire use.
Back2Basics: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
1. Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), 2. Minamata Convention on Mercury, 3. Convention on Migratory Species and 4. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
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Forest Fires
Why forest fires break out in the spring?
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Not Much
Mains level: Forest fires and their prevention
Uttarakhand has witnessed over 1,000 incidents of a forest fire over the last six months, including 45 in the last 24 hours alone.
Forest fires this year
- Since the start of 2021, there has been a series of forest fires in the Himachal Pradesh, Nagaland-Manipur border, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat, including in wildlife sanctuaries.
- April-May is the season when forest fires take place in various parts of the country.
- But forest fires have been more frequent than usual in Uttarakhand and have also taken place during winter; dry soil caused by a weak monsoon is being seen as one of the causes.
As of 2019, about 21.67% of the country’s geographical area is identified as forest, according to the India State of Forest Report 2019 (ISFR) released by the Forest Survey of India (FSI). Tree cover makes up another 2.89% (95, 027 sq km).
How vulnerable are forests in Uttarakhand?
- Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh are the two states that witness the most frequent forest fires annually.
- In Uttarakhand, 24,303 sq km (over 45 per cent of the geographical area) is under forest cover.
What causes forest fires?
- Forest fires can be caused by a number of natural causes, but officials say many major fires in India are triggered mainly by human activities.
- Emerging studies link climate change to rising instances of fires globally, especially the massive fires of the Amazon forests in Brazil and in Australia in the last two years.
- Fires of longer duration, increasing intensity, higher frequency and highly inflammable nature are all being linked to climate change.
- In India, forest fires are most commonly reported during March and April, when the ground has large quantities of dry wood, logs, dead leaves, stumps, dry grass and weeds that can make forests easily go up in flames if there is a trigger.
- Under natural circumstances, extreme heat and dryness, friction created by rubbing of branches with each other also have been known to initiate fire.
Why Uttarakhand?
- In Uttarakhand, the lack of soil moisture too is being seen as a key factor. In two consecutive monsoon seasons (2019 and 2020), rainfall has been deficient by 18% and 20% of the seasonal average, respectively.
- But, forest officials say most fires are man-made, sometimes even deliberately caused.
- Even a small spark from a cigarette butt, or a carelessly discarded lit matchstick can set the fire going.
- For example, in Odisha, which saw a major fire last month in Simlipal forest, villagers are known to set dry leaves to fire in order to collect mahua flowers, which go into preparation of a local drink.
Why are forest fires difficult to control?
- The locality of the forest and access to it pose hurdles in initiating firefighting efforts.
- During peak season, shortage of staff is another challenge in dispatching firefighting teams.
- Timely mobilization of forest staff, fuel and equipment, depending on the type of fire, through the thick forests, remain challenges.
- As it is impossible to transport heavy vehicles loaded with water into the thick forests, a majority of fire dousing is initiated manually, using blowers and similar devices.
- But there have been incidents when forest fires were brought under control using helicopter services.
- Wind speed and direction play a critical role in bringing a forest fire under control. The fire often spreads in the direction of the winds and towards higher elevations.
What factors make forest fires a concern?
Forests play an important role in mitigation and adaptation to climate change.
- Carbon emission: They act as a sink, reservoir and source of carbon.
- Livelihood loss: In India, with 1.70 lakh villages in close proximity to forests (Census 2011), the livelihood of several crores of people is dependent on fuelwood, bamboo, fodder, and small timber.
- Destruction of animals’ habitat: Heat generated during the fire destroys animal habitats. Soil quality decreases with the alteration in their compositions.
- Soil degradation: Soil moisture and fertility, too, is affected. Thus forests can shrink in size. The trees that survive fire often remain stunted and growth is severely affected.
Various efforts taken
- Since 2004, the FSI developed the Forest Fire Alert System to monitor forest fires in real-time.
- In its advanced version launched in January 2019, the system now uses satellite information gathered from NASA and ISRO.
- Real-time fire information from identified fire hotspots is gathered using MODIS sensors (1km by 1km grid) and electronically transmitted to FSI.
- This information is then relayed via email at state, district, circle, division, range, beat levels. Users of this system in the locality are issued SMS alerts.
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Forest Fires
Forest fire in Simlipal Biosphere Reserve
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Simlipal BR
Mains level: Forest fires and their prevention
The Simlipal forest reserve area frequently witnesses forest fires during dry weather conditions.
Try this PYQ:
Q.From the ecological point of view, which one of the following assumes importance in being a good link between the Eastern Ghats and the Western Ghats?
(a) Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve
(b) Nallamala Forest
(c) Nagarhole National Park
(d) Seshachalam Biosphere Reserve
Simlipal Biosphere Reserve
- Similipal, which derives its name from the ‘Simul’ (silk cotton) tree, is a national park and a tiger reserve situated in the northern part of Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district.
- Similipal and the adjoining areas, comprising 5,569 sq km, was declared a biosphere reserve by the Government of India on June 22, 1994, and lies in the eastern end of the eastern ghat.
- It includes three protected areas — Similipal Tiger Reserve, Hadgarh Wildlife Sanctuary with 191.06 km2 (73.77 sq mi) and Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary.
- It is the abode of 94 species of orchids and about 3,000 species of plants.
- The identified species of fauna include 12 species of amphibians, 29 species of reptiles, 264 species of birds and 42 species of mammals, all of which collectively highlight the biodiversity richness of Similipal.
- Sal is a dominant tree species.
How fire-prone is Simlipal forest?
- Generally, with the onset of summers and towards the end of autumn, the forest area remains vulnerable to forest fires.
- They are a recurrent annual phenomenon but are also brought under control due to the short span of precipitation.
- This duration coincides with the shedding of deciduous forests in the forest areas.
- The fallen leaves are more vulnerable to catching fire and facilitate the spreading of these forest fires quickly over the entire forest area.
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Forest Fires
Forest Fire: Its Prevention and Management
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Forest Fire Prevention and Management scheme
Mains level: Forest fires in India
The Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has informed that area covering 93,273 hectares was affected by forest fires in 2019. Most of the fires have been “ground fires” burning ground vegetation.
Measures to curb Forest fires:
1) National Action Plan on Forest Fires
- The MoEFCC has prepared a National Action Plan on Forest Fires in 2018 after several rounds of consultation with all states and UTs.
- The objective of this plan is to minimize forest fires by informing, enabling and empowering forest fringe communities and incentivizing them to work in tandem with the State Forest Departments.
- The plan also intends to substantially reduce the vulnerability of forests across diverse forest ecosystems in the country against fire hazards, enhance capabilities of forest personnel and institutions in fighting fires and swift recovery subsequent to fire incidents.
2) Forest Fire Prevention and Management scheme
- The MoEFCC provides forest fire prevention and management measures under the Centrally Sponsored Forest Fire Prevention and Management (FPM) scheme.
- The FPM is the only centrally funded program specifically dedicated to assist the states in dealing with forest fires.
- The FPM replaced the Intensification of Forest Management Scheme (IFMS) in 2017. By revamping the IFMS, the FPM has increased the amount dedicated for forest fire work.
- Funds allocated under the FPM are according to the 90:10 ratio of central to state funding in the Northeast and Western Himalayan regions and 60:40 ratio for all other states.
- Nodal officers for forest fire prevention and control have been appointed in each state.
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Forest Fires
Blaze down under
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Not much.
Mains level: Paper 1-Climate change,Forest fires.
Context
In Australia, forest fires, among the worst in the country’s history, have been raging since September and show no signs of abating.
Unabated fire in Australia
- The fire, worst in Australia’s history, has been raging since September and shows no signs of abating.
- At least 24 people lost their lives, 500 million animal have perished, and more than 12bn acres of land has turned to cinders.
- New South Wales, the country’s worst-affected state, declared an emergency last week in its southeastern region.
Climate change and the fire
- Australians have vented their anger at Prime Minister for playing down the blaze’s association with climate change.
- Bushfires are actually a part of Australia’s ecosystem. Many plants depend on them to cycle nutrients and clear vegetation.
- Eucalyptus trees in Australia depend on fire to release their seeds.
- The prolonged blaze this year has coincided with Australia’s harshest summer.
- Parts of the country recorded their highest recorded temperature in December.
- Much of Australia is facing a drought that is a result of three consecutive summers with very little precipitation.
- This, according to climate scientists, is unprecedented.
- Australian Bureau of Meteorology’s 2018 State of the Climate report had given a hint of the change.
- It said “Australia’s climate has warmed by just over 1 degree Celsius since 1910, leading to an increase in the frequency of extreme heat events.’’
- This has led to more rainfall in northern Australia but created drought-like conditions in the more densely populated southeast.
Damage caused to the flora and fauna of Australia
- Australia is home to nearly 250 animal species.
- Some of them like the koalas and kangaroos are not found elsewhere.
- The region also has the highest rate of native animals going extinct over the past 200 years.
- Experts, for example, reckon that more than a quarter of the koala habitat has been consumed by the blaze.
- The fires have also caused a drop in the bird, rodent and insect populations.
Conclusion
- These creatures perished are the building blocks of the ecosystem and the fall in their population is bound to have long-term impacts. In Australia’s bushfires lies a warning about the complex ways in which climate variables interact.
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