Forest Fires: Causes & Impacts
- “Forest fires pose a serious threat in India, with over 36% of the forest cover vulnerable to fire. While total forest area has increased by only 1.12% in the last two decades, fire incidences have surged tenfold, highlighting growing ecological and management challenges.”
What are Forest Fires?
- Forest fires or wildfires are spontaneously occurring forest, bush and plain fires and can occasionally be controlled.
- Over 6.6 million hectares of tree cover were lost to forest fires in 2022.
Forest Fire Vulnerability in India
Causes of Forest Fires
Natural Causes
- Lightning: Thunderstorms ignite fires. E.g., 60% of wildfires in British Columbia are caused by lightning.
- Climate Change: Hotter, drier conditions increase fire risk. E.g., 2015-16 El Niño caused a 10-fold tree cover loss in tropical rainforests.
- High Temperatures: Northern regions face ~70% of fire-related tree cover loss due to faster warming and longer fire seasons.
- Vegetation Type: Dry deciduous forests with low rainfall are highly fire-prone. E.g., Australian bushfires.
Anthropogenic Causes
- Human Negligence: Careless campfires and cigarettes caused 1,200 forest fires in Himachal Pradesh.
- Intentional Fires: Arson and slash-and-burn practices triggered fires in Kerala (2023).
- Forest Exploitation: Pine and fodder collection contributed to wildfires in Uttarakhand.
Impact of Forest Fires
- Carbon Emissions: Indian forest fires emit 69 million tonnes of CO2 annually (WRI).
- Biodiversity Loss: Fires destroy habitats, endanger wildlife, and disrupt ecosystems.
- Soil and Water Cycle Disruption: Fires degrade soil fertility, affecting agricultural productivity and groundwater recharge.
- Economic Loss: Forest degradation due to fires costs India ₹1.74 lakh crore annually (MoEFCC, 2018).
- Human-Wildlife Conflict: Fires drive animals into human settlements, increasing risks of conflict.
Government Initiatives to Control Forest Fires
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Way Forward
- Fire Prevention: Prevention by breaking the ‘fire triangle’ composed of fuel, oxygen & ignition source.
- Forest Resilience: Improving forest resilience by halting deforestation and forest degradation.
- Fuel Utilisation: Incentivise collection of inflammable pines for fuel or fire bricks.
- Capacity Building: Engage tribal people and farmers through initiatives like Van Panchayats.
- CSR Awareness: Use corporate social responsibility funds to promote forest fire campaigns.
- Research Development: Expand R&D in fire detection, suppression, and fire ecology.
A combination of Integrated Fire Management and community-led initiatives like “Jungle Ke Dost” can significantly reduce forest fire risks. Strengthening local participation and rapid response ensures both prevention and ecosystem restoration.
Reference: The Hindu
PMF IAS Pathfinder for Mains – Question 370
Q. Forest fires are less an ecological phenomenon and more a reflection of poor forest governance and human interference.” Critically evaluate this statement in the context of India’s evolving forest management practices and recent wildfire incidents. (250 Words) (15 Marks)
Approach
- Introduction: Write a contextual introduction by mentioning the current trend in forest fires in India.
- Body: Evaluate why forest fires are more of a reflection of poor forest governance and human interference, their impact, and suggest strategies to manage forest fires effectively.
- Conclusion: Emphasis on the Integrated approach by mentioning the 5Rs strategy.
