Forests On Fire

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India’s forests are burning at an alarming rate. With tens of thousands of fire incidents reported in Odisha and Goa alone, the impact is spreading through ecosystems, displacing and endangering wildlife, and threatening local economies. While state and city-level policies attempt to tackle the blaze, limited resources and strained trust complicate the response. Will current measures be enough to withstand the mounting ecological cost of these recurring fires?

Source: Naveen N Kadalaveni, Source: Wikipedia Commons

Forest fires are a significant problem in India, with Odisha and Goa being among the most affected states. In recent weeks, over 29,771 forest fire incidents have been reported in Odisha, with 4,000 of them happening in just the last week. As per the Forest Survey of India, between 1st and 12th March, there was a 115% surge in forest fires, with around 42,799 incidents reported having severe impacts on biodiversity and the economy of the region.

The fire-induced destruction in Goa’s Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot is expected to affect the local hydrological cycle, with ash and debris pollutants entering rivers during the monsoon. The displacement of wildlife is also a critical issue, exemplified by a herd of 22-23 elephants in Gadchiroli that were ousted from their homes due to forest fires.

According to a 2018 report by the World Bank, forest fires cost India at least ₹1,100 crore every year, with at least 1 in 4 people dependent on forests for their livelihood.

Source: Hindustan Times

To prevent and manage forest fires, various states in India have implemented policies at both the local and state levels.

The Hamirpur DM recently issued special orders to prevent forest fires in line with the Himachal Pradesh Village and Small Town Patrolling Act 1964, which mandates regular patrolling by the local community.

Similarly, the Uttarakhand Forest Fire Prevention and Control Rules 2017 require forest officials and local communities to work together. At the local level, Nainital and Rampur Division Working Plans in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, respectively, provide detailed working plans for forest fire prevention and management.

Whereas the Forest Fire Prevention and Management Plan for the City of Shimla 2019 is an example of a city-level policy to prevent and manage forest fires. It outlines strategies for creating fire lanes, setting up fire stations, and training local communities.

However, as per an article by BBC News, the lack of funding for forest fire prevention along with the mistrust between local communities and the staff, makes it difficult to implement policies to help prevent these fires.

Have you noticed an increase in forest fires in your region or state recently?

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