Why do people set fires in India?
Fires, set by humans, have both positive and negative outcomes . Throughout India, this practice has been followed for thousands of years, thereby shaping the Indian landscape over the years. This chapter describes the many reasons, as far as they are now known, why people in India set fire to the landscape, and to what extent these fires are hazardous. Review shows that large destructive fires are infrequent in India, most being low-intensity fires that burn only the ground vegetation in their respective ecosystems. Over the years, fires have had a strong impact on ecosystems and their functioning. A study of the different reasons why people burn forests reveals one and perhaps the most important reason is that fire is essential for people's livelihood. This chapter also highlights that the way in which fire is used and its role in managing segments of the landscape are not in accordance with the current forest fire policy. We suggest a more flexible approach that allows for the inclusion of fire as a tool in local fire management systems.
How does fire help forage?
The practice of setting fire to vegetation to improve forage is a worldwide practice. The principle is straightforward: forage species, mainly grasses, are set to fire, but the grasses are not entirely consumed. Fire removes the parts of the grass that are above the soil surface, and often nothing but the bare soil remains. The ash fertilizes the soil leading to a fresh flush of grasses ( Laris, 2002 ). These fresh grasses, due to their higher nitrogen ( Lü et al., 2012) and crude protein content ( Mbatha and Ward, 2010 ), are a better quality fodder than are grasses that sprout without being burned. Based on the frequency with which fires are mentioned in the literature in connection with forage improvement ( Hough, 1993, Kepe and Scoones, 1999, Laris, 2002, Mistry et al., 2005, Shaffer, 2010, Vayda, 1996 ), this use of fire is likely predominant worldwide. In India, fires set to enhance the availability of fodder for domestic animals are the most common cause of wildfires ( Brandis, 1897/1994; Goldammer, 1993, Government of India, 1999, Kohli, 2010, Sinha and Brault, 2005, Schmerbeck and Seeland, 2007, Roveta, 2008 ). However, none of these studies looked at the amount of area burned compared to the actual requirements for forage ground or fodder.
What is NWFP in the forest?
Since the hunter-gatherer times, NWFPs or forest products not obtained by the harvest of trees, have been important to humans . In this chapter, the term NWFP will be used according to Wickens (1994), who describes it as “all the biological material (other than wood products as defined above) that can be utilized within the household, be marketed or have social, cultural or religious significance” (p. 56 ). However, this definition does not include forage.
What are natural hazards?
A common definition of natural hazards is the threat of a naturally occurring event with a negative effect on people or the environment ( Wisner et al., 2004 ). During the annual long and intense dry seasons in the region, fires are a regular phenomenon, and many of them have the potential to cause major damage. Most fires in India do not directly threaten lives and property, but they may have a strong impact on human health by way of the haze and smoke they produce. However, some fires do directly affect lives and property even though they are rare. By far, the most serious negative effect of such hazardous fires in India includes the loss of livelihood for tribal and rural poor people. Additionally, they result in a loss of timber, NTFPs, fuel wood, fodder, and soil fertility. They also degrade catchment areas when a certain threshold for fire occurrence and frequency is reached. Further, they damage cultural heritage sites and the land-use systems that provide the basis for the livelihood of forest-dependent people living in rural India ( Poffenberger and McGean, 1996 ). Hazardous fires that burn sensitive mountain ecosystems can be the indirect cause of landslides, mudslides, erosion, increased water run-off, flash floods, and soil depletion. Although official statistics and information on fire losses are rather weak, the costs to regenerate forests damaged by forest fires are estimated to be Rs 4,400 million (US$96 million) annually ( Bahuguna and Upadhyay, 2002 ).
Where are forest fires in India?
image caption. Forest fires in some parts of northern India have been the strongest in one and a half decades. The lush-green mountains in the background usually make the famous Nainital lake in Uttarakhand state of northern India more picturesque. But for several weeks now haze from forest fires has hidden the mountains, ...
How many forests are prone to fires in India?
An analysis done by the Forest Survey of India in 2019 showed that nearly 36% of the country's forests are prone to fires and nearly one third of that is highly vulnerable.
How many forest fires are there in Nepal?
At one point last month, around 500 forest fires were recorded in Nepal. Its air quality has remained at hazardous levels for several days now. Some of the Himalayan nation's forests and national parks adjoin India's forested and protected areas which means that fires can spread both ways.
Why are local communities protesting in India?
Local communities in different forested areas of India have protested, arguing their rights to forest lands and other resources have been undermined and violated by conservation policies. Authorities say they are protecting forests as per the law.
Is a forest fire a natural disaster?
India's National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has not recognised forest fires as natural hazards. On its website, it has listed cyclone, tsunami, heatwave, landslide, floods and earthquakes under such category. An analysis done by the Forest Survey of India in 2019 showed that nearly 36% of the country's forests are prone to fires ...
Can local communities help with fires?
Local communities' help. Experts said local communities living within or nearby forests could help in putting fires out to a great extent but that is not happening. "That is because there is a serious trust deficit between these communities and the forest administrations of the states," said Mr Pathak.
How many forest fires are there in India?
Over 30,000 forest fires were reported in India in 2019. Around 95 percent of the forest fires in India are on account of human activity. With wildfires in Australia and California gaining global attention in the past few years, forest fire management is in focus. Experts recommend that fire management should focus on prevention not suppression ...
Why do people in India have fires?
“People living in the vicinity of forests often intentionally ignite fires for inducing growth of grass for animal grazing or for crop rotation.
Why do forest fires happen?
Some forest fires also start from natural causes like lightning and friction of dry bamboos. “Fuel is the most important factor in wildfire. Dry leaves, weeds and bushes act as fuel in dry summer season.
What is used to extinguish a fire?
As soon as the two fires meet, the blaze is extinguished.”. In some areas, beating bushes and leafy green boughs are also used for extinguishing fire. Experts recommend that the focus of fire management should be on prevention not suppression and tribal communities living in forests should be roped in.
Why are forests torched?
Forests are torched in revenge as well especially when people are evicted from forests or removed from daily wage work. Most of these fires are surface fires and easily manageable. Sometimes it goes out of hand.”. Some forest fires also start from natural causes like lightning and friction of dry bamboos.
What is counter fire?
Sometimes a counter fire is used to extinguish the uncontrollable fire. In this, a linear patch is cleared of combustibles and manned. When wildfire come closer, then all the people manning the line set fire to the line simultaneously. The counter fire rushes towards the wildfire.
Why is forest fire suppression so heavily on dry firefighting techniques?
Forest fire suppression relies very heavily on “dry” firefighting techniques because of poor water availability. Ramesh Pandey said, “To contain the fire, fire lines (a passage or road, cleared of all vegetation) are created to save neighbouring compartments.
How many forest fire alerts are there in India?
The risk of forest fires remains in the future. A report in Times of India said that forest fire alerts have increased across the country by 125 % this year. Between November 2019 and January 2020, 1,321 alerts were sent out. This year 2,984 alerts are already sent, mostly from Uttarakhand, Odisha and Maharashtra.
Where did the fire in Nagaland start?
The fire, which raged for two weeks, first broke out in the Dzukou Valley under Kohima district in southern Nagaland on December 29 and crossed over to the northern Manipur side, forcing both the state governments to request the NDRF and the army for help.
When do chir pine forests become prey to wildfires?
Local reports say that the fire spread to other areas and was stopped before it could spread further. The forest fire common during the dry season, especially during summer as that is when chir pine forests become easy preys to wildfires.
How many fire points did Simlipal have?
Today Simlipal had only 26 FSI fire points & doused by field staff,” Sandeep Tripathi, the chief of the task force on forest fire Odisha informed on Twitter on March 9. In what was seen as a big relief, mild rain with thundershower was experienced at the Karanjia forest range, adjacent to the Similipal National Park.
What are the causes of wildfires?
Common activities that cause accidental ignition and spread of wildfire include, welding, grinding, faulty machinery, discarded cigarettes, cooking, and campfires. Consider local wildfire weather warning systems and trigger levels and understand how these are used locally.
What is the best way to manage wildfires?
Fuel reduction (by slashing, removal, or regular burning) is a key strategy for managing the wildfire hazard. Consider having access to a water supply that can continue to provide water in the event of a power failure or wildfire impacts on the water supply infrastructure itself.
How reliable are steel and concrete in fires?
Conventional construction techniques using either or a combination of steel and concrete are proven to be reliable in wildfire provided these structures are well sealed to prevent firebrand entry (construction gaps should be less than 2mm).