THE CONTEXT: India recorded 2,03,544 forest fire incidents in the 2023-24 season, marking a decline from 2,23,333 in 2021-22, with 67% of major fires extinguished within 24 hours due to improved response mechanisms and technology integration. However, states like Uttarakhand, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh remain hotspots, while 10.66% of India’s forest cover is highly fire-prone, emphasizing the need for sustained mitigation efforts.
CURRENT SCENARIO OF FOREST FIRES IN INDIA:
INCREASE IN FOREST FIRE INCIDENTS
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- Rising Frequency: India has witnessed a 10-fold increase in forest fire cases over the last two decades, with incidents rising from 8,430 in 2005 to over 2,03,544 in 2023-24, according to the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023.
- Forest Cover Growth: Despite this surge, India’s total forest cover has increased by only 1.12%, highlighting the disproportionate growth compared to fire incidences.
AFFECTED STATES
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- Himalayan Region: Uttarakhand recorded 21,033 fire incidents in 2023-24, a fourfold increase from the previous season, making it the most affected state. Himachal Pradesh saw a 14-fold rise, with fire counts jumping from 704 to 10,136 within a year.
- Central and Eastern India: States like Odisha (20,973 incidents), Chhattisgarh (18,950), and Madhya Pradesh (15,878) remain hotspots.
- Western and Southern India: Maharashtra (16,008 incidents) and Andhra Pradesh (18,174) also reported significant fire activity.
CAUSES OF FOREST FIRES
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- Anthropogenic Factors (90% of cases): Deliberate land clearing for agriculture (slash-and-burn practices). Unattended campfires and negligence during recreational activities.
- Climate Change Amplifiers: Rising temperatures and prolonged dry spells exacerbate fire risks. The Himalayan states experienced their warmest June on record in 2024 since 1901.
- Natural Vulnerability: Over 54% of Indian forests are exposed to occasional fires, with 2.4% experiencing high-frequency fires annually.
CONSEQUENCES OF FOREST FIRES:
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
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- Loss of Biodiversity: Forest fires destroy trees, wildlife habitats, and biodiversity hotspots. For example, the Himalayan forests and Northeast India’s biodiversity-rich areas, including Mizoram and Assam, have suffered significant losses due to repeated fires caused by shifting cultivation practices (jhum). Native vegetation is replaced by invasive species, reducing ecosystem resilience.
- Carbon Emissions: Forest fires contribute to 69 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually in India, undermining climate goals under the Paris Agreement. Globally, forest fires emit between 2.5 to 4 billion tonnes of CO2 annually, exacerbating global warming.
- Air Quality Degradation: Fires increase particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) concentrations, as seen in Guwahati, Tezpur, and Aizawl during fire seasons, worsening air quality indices (AQI) by up to 42%. Black carbon emissions from fires disrupt monsoon patterns and accelerate glacial melting in the Himalayas.
- Water Cycle Disruption: Fires dry up natural water sources and degrade soil fertility by destroying organic matter, reducing groundwater recharge and increasing surface runoff.
SOCIAL IMPACT
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- Impact on Forest-Dependent Communities: Loss of timber and non-timber forest products (NTFPs), such as medicinal plants and honey, affects livelihoods. Communities in Uttarakhand and Odisha face displacement and economic hardships due to frequent fires.
- Human-Wildlife Conflict: Fires force wildlife into human settlements, increasing conflict. For instance, incidents of leopards entering villages in Uttarakhand have risen post-fires. Injuries and fatalities among animals are often undocumented but significant during major fire events.
- Health Hazards: Prolonged exposure to smoke causes respiratory illnesses among nearby populations. For example, residents in Uttarakhand’s Daruwala region reported persistent haze and breathing difficulties during the 2024 fire season.
ECONOMIC IMPACT
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- Direct Losses: Annual economic losses from forest degradation (including fires) are estimated at ₹1.74 lakh crore. Losses include timber resources (e.g., Sal forests in Chhattisgarh) and NTFPs critical for rural economies.
- Cost of Firefighting: States like Tamil Nadu have deployed advanced firefighting equipment such as the Indian Air Force’s “Bambi Bucket,” costing ₹20–30 lakh per operation.
- Impact on Tourism: Fires in ecotourism hubs like Jim Corbett National Park led to cancellations, affecting local economies dependent on tourism revenue.
GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES FOR FOREST FIRE MANAGEMENT IN INDIA
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- National Action Plan on Forest Fires (NAPFF): The National Action Plan on Forest Fires (NAPFF) was launched in 2018 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) to address the growing menace of forest fires in India. It aims to minimize forest fires through a comprehensive framework focusing on prevention, preparedness, suppression, and post-fire restoration.
- Key Features:
- Community Empowerment: The plan emphasizes informing, enabling, and empowering forest fringe communities. It incentivizes their collaboration with state forest departments to reduce fire vulnerability.
- Focus on Vulnerable Areas: Based on studies by the Forest Survey of India (FSI), more than 36% of India’s forest cover is prone to frequent fires, with 4% extremely fire-prone. The plan prioritizes these areas for intervention.
- Technological Integration: Satellite-based monitoring systems such as MODIS and SNPP-VIIRS are used for near-real-time fire alerts. Fire danger ratings are generated weekly during the fire season and uploaded on platforms like the Van-Agni geo-portal.
- Central Monitoring Committee (CMC): This dedicated committee oversees the plan’s implementation at the national and state levels.
- Implementation Mechanism: Funding is provided based on a cost-sharing formula of 90:10 ratio for Northeastern and Himalayan states and 60:40 ratio for other states. Activities include fire line creation, procurement of firefighting equipment, training programs, and awareness campaigns.
- Forest Fire Prevention and Management Scheme (FFPMS): The Forest Fire Prevention and Management Scheme (FFPMS) is India’s only centrally sponsored program dedicated to forest fire management. It was revamped in 2017, replacing the Intensification of Forest Management Scheme (IFMS).
- Key Objectives:
- Enhance the capacity of forest personnel and institutions to prevent and manage fires.
- Support post-fire recovery efforts in affected areas.
- Activities Covered:
- Creation and maintenance of fire lines.
- Procurement of modern firefighting equipment such as drones with thermal imaging capabilities.
- Training forest personnel and engaging local communities through Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs).
THE WAY FORWARD:
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- Improved Budgeting: Allocate consistent and adequate funding for schemes like the Forest Fire Prevention and Management Scheme (FFPMS). For example, the fluctuating allocation from ₹28 crore in 2022-23 to ₹50 crore planned for 2024-25 highlights the need for steady financial support. Introduce a dedicated Forest Fire Mitigation Fund under the National Adaptation Fund on Climate Change (NAFCC) to ensure long-term financing.
- Strengthening Infrastructure: Develop region-specific forest fire management plans at district, block, and village levels, as emphasized by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). Establish dedicated forest fire control rooms in every fire-prone district, modeled after Maharashtra’s initiative.
- Legislative Reforms: Revise the Indian Forest Act, 1927, to include stringent penalties for negligence leading to forest fires. Implement a Model Forest Act, as discussed at the 19th United Nations Forum on Forests, to standardize forest fire management policies across states.
- Advanced Predictive Modelling: Integrate AI-based predictive models with data from the Forest Survey of India (FSI), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and India Meteorological Department (IMD) to identify high-risk zones. Use machine learning algorithms to forecast fire-prone periods based on climatic and geographic data.
- Real-Time Monitoring Systems: Expand the use of satellite-based systems like MODIS and SNPP-VIIRS for near-real-time fire alerts. Deploy drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras for monitoring inaccessible areas, as piloted in Tamil Nadu. Develop a centralized geo-portal integrating fire alerts, resource mapping, and response mechanisms for better stakeholder coordination.
- Training Local Communities: Train forest-dependent communities as first responders under Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) and Eco-Development Committees (EDCs). Conduct awareness campaigns using folk media like Baul singers in West Bengal or local saints in Uttarakhand to educate rural populations on fire prevention.
- Economic Incentives: To encourage community participation in fire prevention, provide incentives such as access to non-timber forest products (NTFPs) and employment in afforestation projects.
- Multi-Stakeholder Engagement: Foster collaboration between policymakers, scientists, civil society groups, and international organizations like the FAO and UNEP through platforms such as the proposed Global Fire Management Hub. Establish a cadre of “forest fire scouts” among rural youth, trained in using modern tools like GPS devices and mobile apps for real-time reporting.
- Post-Fire Restoration: Implement ecosystem-based restoration techniques such as planting native species that are more resistant to fires. Use degraded landscapes post-fire for agroforestry or silviculture projects to restore livelihoods.
THE CONCLUSION:
Addressing forest fires demands a synergistic approach that integrates advanced technologies, robust policies, and empowered communities to safeguard biodiversity, livelihoods, and climate goals. By fostering resilience through sustainable forest management and inclusive governance, India can transform its forests into engines of ecological and economic prosperity.
UPSC PAST YEAR QUESTION:
Q. Examine the reasons for rising incidents of forest fires in India and steps that can be taken to contain them. (150 words) 2019
MAINS PRACTICE QUESTION:
Q. Forest fires in India pose significant environmental, social, and economic challenges. Evaluate the effectiveness of government initiatives like the National Action Plan on Forest Fires (NAPFF) and Forest Fire Prevention and Management Scheme (FFPMS) in managing forest fires.
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