Forest fires : Disaster Management : Environment Geography

 FOREST FIRES:

 

Vulnerability:

  • 54.40% of forests in India are exposed to occasional fires

  • North-Eastern India and Central India along with some patches in Western ghats, Uttarakhand etc.


Causes:

  • Natural : 

    • Lightening 

    • Volcanic eruptions

    • Dry leaves litters

    • Swaying of Bamboos

    • Rolling stones

    • Heat waves and high temperatures.


  • Anthropogenic causes: 

    • Shifting cultivation 

    • Invasive species brought into forest as plantations, increasing vulnerability.        Eg Chir pine in Uttarakhand. 

    • Deliberate fires 

    • Camp fires and irresponsible tourism in forest

    • Burning farm residues


Forest Fire Management:

  • Preventing

    • Moisture retention measures – landscape management, artificial water sources inside forest. 

    • Forest fire prone zone identification and mapping. Effective forest floor biomass management – controlled burning

    • Firelines

    • Weed management.



  • Preparedness

    • Vulnerability assessment

    • Early Fire detection and response.

    • Digitisation of forest boundaries

    • Mapping forest fire breaks


  • Fire Suppression

    • Immediate response- Standard Operating Procedure during fires, Training fire watchers, Community fire fighters etc

    • Requisite equipment like extinguishers, 

    • Expertise in counter firing forests.


  • Post fire management

    • Assessment of loss – By experts.

    • Investigation on cause – Forest departments

    • Restoration plan




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