| Introduction: Contextual Introduction Body: What are the challenges in forest fire management and measures to deal with this? Conclusion: Way forward |
Forest fires are a recurring environmental crisis in India, exacerbated by climate change and human activities. Despite policies like the National Action Plan on Forest Fires (NAPFF) and the Forest Fire Prevention & Management Scheme (FFPMS), India continues to struggle with effective fire management.
Key Challenges in Forest Fire Management
- Budgetary Constraints: The FFPMS budget fluctuates, with funding reduced from ₹46.40 crore in 2019-20 to ₹28.25 crore in 2022-23, impacting long-term planning. Inconsistent financial support weakens prevention and response mechanisms.
- Technological Limitations: The Forest Fire Alert System struggles to distinguish between forest fires and other fires, causing delays. Limited use of predictive modeling, AI-driven risk assessment, and thermal imaging drones.
- Anthropogenic Causes: 90% of forest fires are caused by human activities, such as slash-and-burn agriculture, land clearing, and unattended campfires. Weak law enforcement and a lack of alternatives for forest-dependent communities worsen the situation.
- Environmental and Economic Consequences: 69 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually (World Resources Institute). Destruction of wildlife habitats, soil degradation, and increased human-wildlife conflict.
- Inadequate Community Involvement: Lack of formal mechanisms for local reporting of fires using mobile apps or helplines. Community efforts like pine needle collection in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh remain limited.
Measures to Enhance Prevention, Detection, and Response
- Enhancing Financial Support and Policy Implementation: Ensure steady budget allocation for forest fire management. Strengthen the FFPMS and integrate fire management into State Disaster Management Plans.
- Leveraging Advanced Technology: Expand AI-driven predictive modeling to identify fire-prone areas. Deploy drones with thermal imaging for real-time fire assessment. Integrate data from FSI, IMD, and ISRO for better forecasting.
- Community-Based Forest Fire Management: Expand Self-Help Groups (SHGs) that collect pine needles to reduce fire hazards. Train youth as ‘forest fire scouts’ for early detection and reporting.
- Strengthening Early Warning and Response Systems: Use mobile applications, SMS alerts, and toll-free helplines for rapid fire reporting. Scale successful state initiatives (Tamil Nadu, Odisha) for national implementation.
- Controlled Burns and Alternative Land Use Practices: Implement scientifically controlled burns to reduce excess dry vegetation, as done in Australia and the U.S. Provide sustainable livelihood alternatives to reduce human-induced fires.
Conclusion
Forest fires are not just an environmental concern but also a societal and economic issue. India needs a multi-stakeholder approach, integrating policy interventions, technology, community participation, and better coordination to address the crisis effectively. By strengthening financial support, improving detection systems, and empowering local communities, India can significantly mitigate the growing threat of forest fires.
