Forest fires and Wildlife protection

An introduction

The most common hazard in forests is forests fire. Most part of world like North America (California), South America (Brazil Amazon forests), Argentina and Chile Forests, forests in Australia suffered the hazard of wild forest fires in recent times.  Forests fires are as old as the forests themselves. They pose a threat not only to the forest wealth but also to the entire regime to fauna and flora seriously disturbing the bio-diversity and the ecology and environment of a region. During summer, when there is no rain for months, the forests become littered with dry senescent leaves and twinges, which could burst into flames ignited by the slightest spark. The Himalayan forests, particularly, Garhwal Himalayas have been burning regularly during the last few summers, with colossal loss of vegetation cover of that region.

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Forest fires are caused by Natural causes as well as Man made causes

• Natural causes - Many forest fires start from natural causes such as lightning which set trees on fire. However, rain extinguishes such fires without causing much damage. High atmospheric temperatures and dryness (low humidity) offer favorable circumstance for a fire to start.

• Man made causes - Fire is caused when a source of fire like naked flame, cigarette or bidi, electric spark or any source of ignition comes into contact with inflammable material. The source in this case are the lightning activities of human beings near forests or inside forest land.

What if problems occurs ?

When trees and other vegetation are incompletely burned, they release black carbon into the air, which can last for centuries on land and even longer in oceans. Now we have the best global picture yet of how much of the stuff is making its way to the sea: around a third of all the black carbon produced by fires.

Fires are a major cause of forest degradation and have wide ranging adverse ecological, economic and social impacts, including:

• loss of valuable timber resources
• degradation of catchment areas
• loss of biodiversity and extinction of plants and animals
• loss of wildlife habitat and depletion of wildlife
• loss of natural regeneration and reduction in forest cover
• global warming
• loss of carbon sink resource and increase in percentage of CO2 in atmosphere
• change in the microclimate of the area with unhealthy living conditions
• soil erosion affecting productivity of soils and production
• ozone layer depletion
• health problems leading to diseases
• loss of livelihood for tribal people and the rural poor, as approximately 300 million people are directly dependent upon collection of non-timber forest products from forest areas for their livelihood.

Needs of the fire management

• Prevention of human-caused fires through education and environmental modification. It will include silvicultural activities, engineering works, people participation, and education and enforcement. It is proposed that more emphasis be given to people participation through Joint Forest Fire Management for fire prevention.
• Prompt detection of fires through a well coordinated network of observation points, efficient ground patrolling, and communication networks. Remote sensing technology is to be given due importance in fire detection. For successful fire management and administration, a National Fire Danger Rating System (NFDRS) and Fire Forecasting System are to be developed in the country.
• Fast initial attack measures.
• Vigorous follow up action.
• Introducing a forest fuel modification system at strategic points.
• Firefighting resources.

Protection of wildlife and forests is an important duty of all human beings. We should use available technology and resources in fighting with the forests fires and must evolve innovative ideas to protect forest vegetation and wildlife.