Forest Fire in India- Reasons and Solutions

The devastating forest fires in Uttarakhand have brought widespread attention to the extensive destruction caused by it. Most forest fires in India take place during the dry season, between the April-May months. However, in recent years, the forest fires have become more frequent than usual. Over time, Forest Fire has become a matter of great environmental concern, and its cases are continuously increasing.

What is Forest Fire? What is the Status of Forest Fires in India?

Forest Fire- A forest fire is an uncontrolled fire that destroys large parts of the forest. November to June is considered to be forest fire season in India. The Peak fire season typically begins in late February and spans about 12 weeks.

Forest Fire Prone Regions- According to the India State Forest Report (ISFR) 2019, 21.67% of India’s geographical area is forest. Of that, Forests in Assam, Mizoram and Tripura have been identified as ‘extremely fire-prone‘. Dry deciduous forests are highly susceptible to severe fires.

What are the reasons for Forest Fires in India?

There are both natural and anthropogenic causes of forest fires in India. These are mentioned below-

Natural Causes

a. Lightning- A lightning strikes power cables, trees, or rocks can produce a spark trigerring forest fires.

b. Volcanic eruption- Hot magma in the earth’s crust is usually expelled out as lava during a volcanic eruption. The hot lava then flows into nearby fields or lands to start wildfires.

c. Heat patterns- Increased temperatures due to global warming make the forests more vulnerable to forest fires. Rising atmospheric temperatures and dryness (low humidity) make favourable circumstances for a fire to start.

d. Lack of soil moisture- The dryness in the soil triggers fire in forests. For ex- The recent Uttarakhand wildfires have been caused due to this.

e. Natural availability of materials trigerring forest fire- In India, availability of large quantities of dry wood, logs, stumps, dead leaves, dry grass and weeds in forest lands are also reasons of forest fires.

Anthropogenic Factors 

a. Smoking- Smoking is the leading cause of forest fires globally. Throwing away the cigarette butts without completely extinguishing them can lead to wildfires.

b. Campfires- During camping or outdoor activities, people normally leave lit fires or combusting materials unattended. This ignites wildfires.

c. Burning Debris- Wastes and trash on several occasions are burned to ashes as a way of reducing the accumulation of rubbish. This also leads to forest fires in India. For ex- The recent Simlipal Forest fire.

d. Slash and Burn Cultivation- This is one of the major reason for the fire in India’s Northeastern region.

Why peak forest fires occur during the spring?

Spring in India occurs between March and April. In India, the occurrence of wildfires will be at peak during spring season. The reasons are as follows-

a. Less rainfall during the winter months- Less rainfall during winter months reduce the soil moisture in forests. The forest soil loses the capacity to control the fire on its own. For ex- The recent Uttarakhand forest fires.

b. Large availability of combustible materials- The large availability of combustible materials like dry wood, logs, stumps, dead leaves, dry grass and weeds, increase the intensity of forest fires. Further, strong winds enhance the intensity of forest fires.

What is the Impact of forest fires in India?

a. Loss of Ecosystems and Biodiversity- Forest fires destroy the habitats and the intricate relationships of diverse flora and fauna, leading to loss of ecosystems and biodiversity. For ex- Extinction of wildlife in India.

b. Forest Degradation- Forest fires reduce the quality of certain forest features like soil fertility, biodiversity, and ecosystems.

c. Impact on livelihood- According to the 2011 census, 1.70 lakh villages in India have proximity to forests. The livelihood of several crores of people is dependent on fuelwood, bamboo, fodder, and small timber. Forest fires directly impact their livelihood.

d. Air Pollution- Forest fires reduce carbon sequestration, and instigate huge clouds of smoke leading to massive air pollution.

e. Soil Degradation- Forest fires kill beneficial soil microorganisms that are responsible for breaking down the soil and promoting soil microbial activities. Further, the wildfires also make soils vulnerable to soil erosion.

f. Destruction of Watersheds- Forest fires lead to the destruction of wetlands of forest, which are protected by the forest.

What are the Government initiatives for forest Fires in India?

What should be the Way Forward to reduce Forest Fires?

a. Capacity Development- Capacity development of forest departments’ officials at different levels (national, regional, local) to reduce the vulnerability of Indian forests fire.

b. Forest Control Manuals- Creation of forests fire control manuals for field staff helps in early detection, reporting and controlling the fires.

c. Comprehensive forest fire policy- A cohesive policy or action plan should be formulated to set forth the guiding principles and framework for wildfire Management. The policy should also incorporate the dimension of climate change.

d. Indigenous knowledge- Using indigenous knowledge and techniques of local and tribal people in comprehensive wildfire management.

e. Infrastructure creation- Improving the Staffing and capacity of firefighters in the country. For ex- Construction of watchtowers and crew stations, hiring seasonal fire watchers to spot fires etc.

f. Development of Technology- Modern firefighting techniques such as the radio-acoustic sound system for early fire detection and Doppler radar should be adopted. We must also aim at developing a National Fire Danger Rating System (NFDRS) and Fire Forecasting System for faster detection and control of fire.