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 fore...