FOREST FIRE : THE BURNING ISSUE�(A CASE STUDY FOR UTTARAKHAND

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1. FOREST FIRE : THE BURNING ISSUE (A CASE STUDY FOR UTTARAKHAND WILDFIRE IN 2016)

2. INTRODUCTION A wildfire or wild land fire is an uncontrolled fire in an area of combustible vegetation that occurs in the countryside. Depending on the type of vegetation the wild fire can also be termed as brush fire, bush fire, forest fire, desert fire, grass fire, hill fire, veld fire etc. The wild fire classified as surface fire, canopy fire and crown fire. Uttarakhand is a forest fire zone. Uttarakhand faced many wild fire in several years like 1911,1921,1930,1931,1939,1945, 1953,1954,1958,1966 1995,2001, 2007,2011,2013 etc. Very recently the area also see a gigantic wild fire in 2016. This forest fire happened in the month of April to May in 2016 . Location : Almora district of Uttarakhand and it spread to himachalpradesh.

3. LOCATION MAP OF FOREST FIRE ZONE IN UTTARAKHAND

4. POSSIBLE CAUSES OF WILD FIRE The forest fire is a QUAZI NATURAL HAZARD, there are some natural (which beyond control) as well as anthropogenic causes (which can control). There are several types of possible natural causes behind the disastrous wild fire in Uttarakhand in 2016 . High temperature – due to low rainfall or scanty rainfall temperature increases which cause wild fire. The 2015-16 el-Niño cause the temperature change in Uttarakhand. Sparks from rock fall – due to landslide the trees fall down and the leaves grind each other which make the sparks and cause wild fire. Windy condition are certainly fanning the fire and helping it to spread.

5. ANTHROPOGENIC CAUSES Role Of Timber Mafia : As thousands of trees have been burnt, selling them would bring huge revenue to the officials and the mafia that would buy them. Role of Farmers : Farmers set fire to their agricultural fields hoping for a better crop in the next season. Role of Local People: People leave burning cigarettes or bidi buds in the fields.

6. Role Of Forest Dwellers : Forest dwellers often start fire to crate new ground to get a fresh crop of grasses for livestock. Other Reasons : Collection of honey ,collection of Sal seeds, extraction of timber may lead to accidental fire.

7. Consequences of forest fire

8. Environmental impact GLACIER MELTING Fires in Uttarakhand lead to glaciers melting Black carbon’ from the smog and ash prone to melting . Water in the rivers get very polluted Raised average temperatures across northern India by 0.2 degree Celsius Loss of carbon sink and increase in the amount of carbon dioxide glaciers most likely to be affected by this are the ones situated at low altitudes, like Gangotri , Milam, Sundardunga , Newla and Cheepa .

9. Raging forest fire could cause glaciers to melt

10. Soil forest fire causes several changes in soil. Soil erosion affecting productivity of soils and production burn away the thick layer of litter on the forest floor the kind of organisms living in the soil changes, compounding the changes in the soil properties. Wildlife Fires destroy biodiversity directly and have more indirect long-term impacts  Loss of wildlife habitats wildlife reserves across the state have also come under the fire. 198 hectares (Jim Corbett National Park), 70 hectares in ( Rajaji Tiger Reserve) and 60 hectares ( Kedarnath Musk Deer Sanctuary )   Pauri , Tehri and Nainital are the worst hit by these fires as they abound in Cheed and Sal trees which are highly inflammable Extinction of animals Insects Loss of insects leads to significant impact on forest ecosystem A study conducted in Sal forests of Uttarakhand , and published in early 2016, found a decline in insect population .

11. wildfire fire in uttarakhand

12. Forest fire threatens wildlife

13. Social impact Loss of livelihood for tribal people and rural poor Commercial loss from the fires Loss to agriculture and horticulture various health hazards Forest fires threaten Uttarakhand's status as tourist haven Loss of income from the lack of tourism People fighting the fire often lose their lives. Daily life disrupted as well as educational institution, and workplaces were closed. Roads works was suspended and recreational areas were restricted

14. A woman walks through haze as a forest fire burns bushes and fields The forest fires in Uttarakhand , which have devastated acres of green cover in the hills People fighting wildfire

15. Woman fighting fire with a small bowl Local people extinguishing the fire in the forests at Kotdwar , Uttarakhand

16. MANAGEMENT OF FOREST FIRE IN UTTARAKHAND There are two types of methods:- 1. Traditional method 2. Modern method 1. Traditional method : Forest officials say the traditional method of “beating the fire down” with green branches & ‘Fire Breaks’ work best.

17. There are already preventive and remedial measures for forest fires, implemented by the state and Central governments in vulnerable areas with sufficient fund allocations. Forest department has influenced people to help in preventing forest fairs by taking necessary precaution . Migration is an indirect issue that needs to be addressed to control forest fires. For immediate relief, tankers should be arranged and on a long term basis, traditional water sources should be revived and preserved, it was directed tankers will be sent to provide water in wildlife parks.

18. MANAGEMENT BY THE LOCAL PEOPLES AND GOVERNMENT

19. LIMITATION OF TRADITIONAL METHOD The traditional method is not practised properly due to a lack of manpower. The forest department needs to exclusively recruit forest fire fighting staff acquanted with modern technologies . It is difficult to cover the looking after for a forest guard even over several days .

20. 2. MODERN METHOD :- NDRF, SDRF, PAC and the forest department, were still on the ground to keep a watch on the situation. More modern systems of fire monitoring alongside traditional methods like maintaining fire lines, so there is a clearing between two forests to prevent the fire from spreading from one to the other. IAF aircrafts fly sorties to dump water picked from the neighboring lakes. The pine needles, the main fire hazard, need to be converted into a resource.

21. Forest scientists have already developed different uses of chir pine needles for briquettes, compost, boards, tiles, etc. Modern fire-fighting techniques like the Early Forest Fire Detection Using Radio-Acoustic Sounding System, Doppler radar, etc. Use of modern forest fire detection and monitoring systems with help from the Forest Survey of India (FSI) and ISRO. Creating awareness among locals along with their participation, can be a better solution.

22. LIMITATION OF MODERN METHOD Forest communities need capacity-building and acquaintance with modern methods of combating forest fires . Lack of educational training . Government can not take care this problems . The plantation of indiganous brodly moisture conserving species .

23. Awareness The department made six suggestions people asking them not to cook in the open, remove bushes, dry leaves, garbage and inflammable material dumped near their homes to prevent fire. It also asked people not to let women, children and the elderly members of the family to go to areas where a forest fire has occurred. Banning people from carrying matchboxes . plantation of indigenous broad-leaved, moisture-conserving species, particularly banj oak, Myrica, Alder, Rhododendron, etc at higher elevations and Sal, khair, Harad, Baheda, Arjun, sissoo, etc at lower elevations.

24. PREVENTING WILDFIRES Human-initiated fires cause the high amount of property damage, loss of wild-habitat, the lives of humans & animals. Some forest fire engaging in outdoor activities. Comply with all local laws and regulations. Check the weather states as wind act as both an accelerant and can spread the fire. Established fire outlooks which are used in United States, Canada, other countries over the world for forest fire prevention. Follow safe debris burning school. Practice firework safety as sometimes fireworks a common human blunder that causes a high no. of forest fire. Practice proper ash disposal as wildfire have been known to break out for the imporer disposal of ash that comes from wood stoves, fire places, outdoor wood boilers etc. Depending on a size of a forest fire prone region, a variety of detection services are available to prevent the spread of forest fire.

25. Performing routine maintenance checks and safety on all machinery and equipments. Monitor electric fencing that are often used in maintaining livestock on firms or keep intruders out. Malfunction in construction of this type of fence can cause fire. Building homes out of flame resistant materials help to prevent spread of forest fire. School programmes and proper education also help in teaching how to prevent fire at a young age. creating a safe campfire, contact with your local landfill are also considered as the prevention of fire.

26. CONCLUSION Blaming Timber Mafia for the Forest Fire is factually incorrect. The lethargic role of Forest Department, State Government has gone unnoticed. Need for more study on the impact of repeated fires on Pine/Oak Forest. Working with Local People, a way forward in containing Forest Fires.