Adding fuel to the fire

The sight of Mi-17 V helicopter picking up water from the lake in Nainital to douse fire in and around the town in end-April 2024, was a sight that tourists didn’t think they will have to witness. Everyone watched a fire raged in many nearby areas, threatening colonies including Army and Air Force units. According to information provided by the forest department on 19 April, 117 fresh forest fire incidents were reported in Uttarakhand, with Garhwal region accounting for 32 of them, Kumaon region 75, and wildlife areas 10. Forest fires flared up in Uttarakhand in mid-April as temperatures soared, with 198.9 hectares of forest land gutted in 117 fresh incidents on 19 April.

These fires have larger ramifications than just something local populace needs to concern itself with. Disasters such as rain and fire impact water sources and raise atmospheric temperatures, which is having an adverse impact on the Himalayan ecology. Biodiversity loss, loss of water sources such as springs, and their impact on glaciers is a cause of concern for the entire nation.

Uttarakhand fires over the years

The fire season that began on February 15 this year, has already affected more than 1,000 hectares of forest land, which includes 724.93 hectares of reserved forest area. This is nothing new. Every year, from February to June, Uttarakhand forests are damaged by fires caused either by human actions, natural causes orclimatic conditions. An analysis of such fires in the past decade shows that the only time there was a noticeably low incident of forest fire,was during the covid lockdowns in 2020.In other years, particularly in 2016, 2021, 2022, and now this year, the incidents and damage have been extremely high.

Reasons for forest fires

It is worth looking at some more numbers here: Uttarakhand has approximately 38,000 sq km of forests, which is almost 71 per cent of its geographical area. Since its formation as a separate state in 2000, forest fires have affected over 48,000 hectares.

The forest fire season in India lasts between November and June. The primary reason for fires in the Himalayan region is less precipitation and a resultant lack of moisture, besides human intervention. Dry fuel in the form of pine needles and grass makes it easy for fires to spread. The resin from pine trees also adds to the woes and leads to fire reaching up to the trees. Locals clearing the area for agriculture and for newer greener grass also start firesthat frequently go out of control. Irresponsible behaviour by tourists in forest areas plays a role as well.

The Forest Survey of India (FSI) website states that nearly 36 per cent of India’s forests are prone to frequent fires. The forest department states four causes of wildfires in Uttarakhand – deliberate fires by locals, carelessness, farming-related activities and natural reasons. According to a government report, locals set forests on fire for the growth of good quality grass, to cover up illegal cutting of trees, for poaching, etc.

Remedial measures and role of forest department

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) lists the following methods to prevent and control a forest fire:

• Construction of watch towers for early detection
• Deployment of fire watchers
• Involvement of local communities
• Creation and maintenance of “fire lines”

The forest department takes care of these actions by employing manpower or through part-time casual labour. According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) website, two types of fire lines are in practice – kachha (covered fire lines), and pucca (open fire lines). In kaccha fire lines, the undergrowth and shrubs are removed, while trees are retained to decrease the fuel load. The pucca fire lines are clear felled areas separating a forest/compartment/block from another to control the spread of potential fires.

Fire lines can also be created by controlled fire from the opposite direction to stop the raging fire to move to new areas. These fire lines can also be created to channelise rain water to catchment areas, which improves moisture in the forest.

Role of community: Practices around the world

Forest fires are a global phenomenon, which in recent times have grown in alarming proportions.

The fires in the recent years in Australia and the US in particular, are glaring example of climate change and human activities leading to disastrous fires. While in India most of the fire is “surface fire” and sometime “Ground fire”, the big forests in Australia and the US have often been subjected to “crown fire”. While not much can be done to put out raging forest fires, prevention strategies can well be put in place in collaboration with local communities, who depend on forest produce.

Capacity building and handholding of local populace can work wonders in the control of forest fire, and also when it comes to mitigating climate change challenges. Many NGOs and institutes are working with local organisations for spring rejuvenation in the Himalayan belt, but more needs to be done. Water management in its entirety has to be done at a large scale, with proper policy framework by the government.

A case in point: Just Dig It. The organisation is on a mission to regreen the African landscape to cool down the planet, with the help of millions of farmers and everyone else who can partner in the cause. The organisation feels that global warming is moving fast, the earth is drying up, and we need to reverse the trend if we want to save earth from irreversible damage.

The organisation feels that global warming can be mitigated by 37 per cent through cost-effective nature-based solutions. Among its many initiatives, an interesting one is where the land is dug in a moon crescent fashion, with bunding on one side so as to retain rain water. The organisation works with communities and local partners to restore dry land. Proven regreening techniques include rain water harvesting(digging bunds),tree restoration and developing grass seed banks.

The projects have successfully been implemented in many parts of Africa including landscapes in Kenya,Tanzania,Uganda and Ethiopia. The organisation runs its campaign in most European countries for financial support, besides crowd funding initiatives.

Another good example of forest wildfire management is Mexico. The forests in Mexico see fewer wildfires and maintain great biodiversity. The primary reason for this is that more than half of the country’s forestry is in community and indigenous hands, a situation unlike anywhere else in the world, which according to experts helps explain why the country has done better at controlling large fires.

Worldwide, an estimated 36 per cent of the remaining intact forest landscapes are on indigenous land. Studies show that not only do community-controlled forests absorb more CO2 than those under government or private control, but deforestation rates are slower and they suffer less during severe water shortages, greatly reducing wildfire risk. In community-controlled forests, the group’s interest is always above individual interests and it is consensus based. This makes a strong case for broader involvement of the communities in management of forests.

There are many other initiatives across the globe where harnessing rain water is leading to increased moisture content and greenery in the forest, thus minimising fire incidents. In Uttarakhand itself, there are many organisations that work at local levels for spring rejuvenation, which are being undertaken in similar fashion, albeit at a low scale. These initiatives in forest areas lead to the revival of springs and increase in moisture content.

Two years ago, the locals of a village in outskirts of Pune worked on creating water reservoirs up the hill, and to stop rain water from gushingdown the slopes, which damages their properties every monsoon. Their initiatives have led to greening of the forest, stopped erosion of top soil, and there has been no further damage to villagers’ property.

Although the forest department also promotes the creation of local ponds and check dams, the scale is too small to make any meaningful impact.

Integration of technical, social and practical solutions

The chief minister of Uttarakhand made an appeal to stakeholders to come together and fight the fire in the Nainital area. He also warned the officials of strict action for dereliction of duty. However, merely an appeal after the disaster has struck is not what is needed. An integrated approach involving all government agencies, local communities, as well as NGOs and institutions working on ground is the need of the hour.

Water is central to all environmental problems associated with disasters in mountainous regions. Water springs sprouting at frequent intervals is no longer a common phenomenon in the hills because the path of these springs has been disrupted by unplanned development. As a result, these blocked water channels find a new route, leading to weakening of slopes and ultimately causing landslides. Similarly, a lack of moisture in forests is one of the major causes of fire. There is enough water in forests but it needs to be channelised and retained in the forms of mini ponds all along the forest areas.

Water availability at frequent intervals will also help the forest department and locals when dousing out wildfires. The channels so created to lead the rain water to these ponds act as natural barriers and fire lines. Although creation of mini ponds and check dams in forests is a mandate of the forest department, lack of funds, non-cooperation or half-hearted involvement of local communities in the entire process,sadly results in minimal effort in this direction.

Comprehensive policy and advocacy

There is an urgent need for an all-encompassing policy and its implementation, which involves all stakeholders and facilitates mini-ponding and harnessing rain water through channels that leads water to such reservoirs. NGOs and locals working in this direction need to be incentivised and capacity building of the communities needs to be undertaken to make them understand the importance of such initiatives and also their responsibility towards forests. Strict actions should also be taken against defaulters and irresponsible tourists. A broader role needs to be defined for the communities by increasing their stake in better health of the forests.

"जानकर जो जलाते हैं जंगल 
जला रहे हैं वो जिगर अपना 
अनजान हैं, वो नहीं जानते हैं 
जला रहे हैं वो घर भी अपना
साँसों में धुआं, आँखों में पानी 
सुखा रहे हैं वो पानी भी अपना 
जंगल है साँसे,जंगल है जीवन
मिटा रहे हैं, जीवन वो अपना"

The writer is Chief Advisor, Himalay Unnati Mission(HUM)

Banner image : IANS