About 10.66% of the forest area in India is affected by fire incidents. 952 hectares of forest was destroyed by fire, while 3,230 hectares of forest was damaged due to other reasons. In 2023, 112 hectares of forest was destroyed.
The incidence of forest fires is becoming a serious challenge in India. Such fires also cause a lot of damage to the environment. In the last 20 years, India’s forest areas have increased by 1.12 percent, but the incidents of fire have increased 10 times. This figure has emerged as a serious crisis not only in terms of environment but also for the economy. It is estimated that 36 percent of India’s forest areas are prone to fire, which can cause losses of up to Rs 1.74 lakh crore every year.
Why do forests catch fire?
1-The biggest reason behind these incidents is climate change, human activities and lack of strong infrastructure to deal with fire. Temperatures are rising due to climate change. Due to which the moisture level in the vegetation is also decreasing. Along with this, the unseasonal heatwave causes friction in their leaves and fire is breaking out. Apart from this, due to irregular monsoon, the forests remain dry for a long time. The month of February in the year 2023 was the hottest. Due to which the moisture before the monsoon was eliminated in a way.
2- El-Nino incidents have become the main reason for forest fires. Due to El-Nine, there is less rainfall. Due to which the forests dry up and the incidents of fire increase. Due to the effect of El-Nino, 30 percent less rainfall was estimated in the east and northeast region and 68 percent less in the south in the year 2024.
3- Human encroachment in forest areas has increased. Forests are being cut to increase the area of cultivation. During this, a little negligence regarding fire is increasing such incidents. Fire incidents are also occurring in South India due to felling and burning. In this, first the forests are cut and then the weeds are set on fire. At the same time, the way the infrastructure is developing, this is also the main reason for setting fire to the forest.
4- There is a lot of possibility of tourism in forest areas. People go to the forest for picnics. During this time, fire is set to destroy waste things. During this, there is a possibility of a spark turning into a big fire.
5- The lack of fire stations is also playing a big role in dealing with such incidents. In the year 2019, there were only 3,377 fire stations in the country. Which is very less according to the incidents.
Big role of flammable vegetation
The pine trees of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh shed sharp leaves filled with silt, in which the possibility of fire spreading is highest. Apart from this, fire also starts from pine trees. At the same time, bamboo trees are also planted in large numbers in many forests in India, which catch fire quickly.
Lack of awareness among people
The livelihood of many villages in India depends on forests. Such people are not aware of incidents of forest fires. There is also a lack of communication and coordination between responsible officials and the general public. Apart from this, the use of advanced technology is also very less.
Effects of forest fires
Forest fires cause heavy damage to vegetation, wildlife and soil. Such incidents also cause water pollution and air pollution. Forest fires cause damage to timber, non-timber products and tourism. Damage to agriculture also creates a crisis of food for the people.
Measures to tackle forest fires
India needs a comprehensive preparedness to tackle the threat of forest fires by empowering local people through Van Panchayats and Joint Forest Management Committees.
Deployment of AI-driven forecasting models and real-time satellite monitoring can help identify areas prone to fires. Planting fire-resilient native species in place of mono-crop plantations can also reduce the incidence of fires.
Recognising and expediting Forest Rights Act (FRA) claims can empower tribal communities to sustainably manage forests. Integrating climate adaptation strategies, such as selecting drought-tolerant species, can enhance their ecosystems.
Mining, road expansion and hydropower projects in forest areas can be strictly regulated. Regulating eco-tourism through responsible tourism guidelines can protect forests as well as generate revenue. Drones can be used for aerial seed bombing of degraded forests, thereby increasing forest cover.
