Context

Forest fires have been raging in the Coonoor forest range in the Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu for almost a week.

Causes of Forest Fires

• Natural Causes: 

  • Lightning: Lightning-caused forest fires ignite when lightning strikes combustible materials on the ground during conducive weather conditions.
  • Volcanic Eruption: spreads over forest floors, igniting fires.
  • High Temperatures: Hot and dry temperatures and high tree density help the spread of forest fires.

• Anthropogenic Causes: 

• • Fire is caused when a source of fire like naked flame, cigarette or bidi, electric spark or any source of ignition comes into contact with inflammable material.

Forest Fires Prone Areas in India

• The 2019 India State of Forest Report by the Forest Survey of India found that over 36% of India’s forest cover was susceptible to frequent fires.
• Vulnerable States: The eleven main states with frequent occurrence of forest fires in recent times are: 
  • Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. 
• Forest Fire Vulnerability Across Ecosystems: According to the FSI, severe fires break out in dry deciduous forests, while evergreen, semi-evergreen, and montane temperate forests are comparatively less prone to fires.

Key Impacts of Forest Fires

• Biodiversity Loss: Forest fires have adverse effects on the forest cover, tree growth, vegetation, and the overall flora and fauna. 
• Soil Erosion: Forest fires leave the soils bare to the action of natural elements i.e. sun, wind and rain, leading to soil erosion and loss of top fertile soil.
• Soil Fertility: It leads to destruction of soil organic matter and affects the soil structure adversely. 
• Growth in IAS: Some invasive alien species (IAS) in India’s forests are fire-assisted. 
• Damage to Wild animals: Forest fire results in enormous loss to wildlife and birds. It causes loss of habitat for the wild fauna making them susceptible to death due to poaching, adverse weather conditions or killing by predator species.
• Air Pollution: Forest fires emit heat-trapping gases such as N₂O and other aerosols that influence the regional and global climate. 
• Climate Change: Forest fires contribute to climate change by releasing carbon stored in trees, undergrowth, litter, and soils into the atmosphere. 

Government Initiatives Taken to Prevent Forest Fires in India

• National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) 2019: Under the revised NDMP 2019, Forest Fire has been included and addressed as a hazard, with specific time bound action plans, and clear roles & responsibilities of Central, State agencies and key stakeholders. 
• Forest Fire Alert System: Since 2004, the FSI developed the Forest Fire Alert System to monitor forest fires in real time. 
• Fire Weather Index based Forest Fire Danger Rating System (FFDRS): It Identifies vulnerable areas on the ground for
  • Risk reduction and mitigation
  • Identification of highly fire prone areas
  • Resource allocation and mobilisation
• National Action Plan on Forest Fires (NAPFF):  It was launched in 2018 by MoEF&CC to minimise forest fires by informing, enabling and empowering forest fringe communities and incentivizing them to work with the State Forest Departments.

Way Forward 

• Forest Fire line: It includes preventing fire through removal of forest litter all along the forest boundary known as “Forest Fire Line” .
• Creating Firebreaks: To control forest fires effectively, creating firebreaks such as small clearings or ditches in the forests is crucial to prevent their spread.
• National Forest Fire Knowledge Network: It must be established to cover all dimensions of forest fire in the country. 
• Capacity Building and Separate Division for Forest Fire Management.
• Promote Forest Fire Research and Technology Innovations for developing appropriate techniques in getting prior information about forest fire, detecting it, and suitable mechanisms to suppress it. 
• Strengthening Collaboration: Necessary collaboration is required with organisations involved in generating early warning about forest fire.