- Last week, three forest fires were recorded from Uttarakhand’s major forest belts.
- The gravity of the crisis has compelled the deployment of Indian Air Force soldiers and Mi-17 choppers to perform the essential operation of dousing the flames with the Bambi Bucket Method.
Causes of wildfire:
- To begin, the most common causes of forest fires in Uttarakhand are prolonged dry weather and a lack of moisture in the woods.
- Second, the Forest Research Institute (FRI, 2019) reports that human activities cause 95% of forest fires.
- Common human-caused causes include grazers starting fires on dry grass, slash-and-burn agriculture, unattended campfires, and intentional arson.
Uttarakhand’s Forest Vulnerability:
- Uttarakhand has a Recorded Forest Area (RFA) of 38,000 sq km, including 26,547 sq km reserved, 9,885 sq km protected, and 1,568 sq km unclassified.
- Chir Pine trees, which are very combustible and cover large areas, add to the risk of fire.
- This danger is exacerbated by extended dry spells and excessive biomass buildup.
- Furthermore, the closeness of communities encourages human activity like forest clearing and grazing.
Mitigation Strategies
- Localized Initiatives:
- Controlled burning, biomass clearance, planned burns, and drone-based surveillance are all effective ways to reduce the danger of forest fire.
- Community interaction and proactive involvement, as seen in Kerala, offer vital insights into forest fire management.
- Government Initiatives:
- The government has implemented measures such as a satellite-based fire alarm system by the Forest Survey of India to help in early identification and response.
- Forest personnel use a variety of measures, such as counter-fires and fire beaters, to efficiently confine and manage forest fires.
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/supreme-court-to-urgently-hear-uttarakhand-forest-fire-petitions-on-may-8/article68145088.ece