1. FOREST FIRE – THREAT TO
ECOLOGICAL SECURITY
New approach to deal with
Dr.Rajiv K.Srivastava, I.F.S.,

2. Introduction
 Natural & un-natural fire
 Biodiversity loss
 Past management
 World cry
 National Policy
 Population impact
 Inside Human (Settlement / villagers)
 Outside Cattle
 Remote sensing report
 Fire in Himalayas / Western Ghats.

3. STRATAGIC LOCATION OF INDIA MAKING IT ONE OF
THE MAGA BIODIVERSITY ZONE

4. Estimated Forest Areas affected by Forest Fire
State District Total Forest area affected by fire (%)
Ranchi 62.1
Bihar
West Champaran 95.3
Assam All Districts 33.8
Cooch Bihar 49.4
West Bengal
Darjeeling 31.0
Tehri Garhwal 46.2
Hill Region 69.5
U.P.
Tarai Region 74.6
South Region 30.3
Orissa Kalahandi 82.4
Koraput 69.6
Karnataka Shimoga 46.7
Mysore 57.3
Chikmaglur 43
Hassan 57.3
Dadra and Nagar Haveli Dadra and Nagar Haveli 97
Manipur All Districts 42
Mizoram Aizawl 35
Tripura All Districts 89

5. State District Total Forest area affected by fire (%)
Lower Subansiri 51.1
Arunachal Pradesh
Upper Subansiri 6.8
Sikkim All Districts 33.2
Meghalaya All Districts 41.9
Shimla/Rohru/Chopal, Chamba, Lahul -Spiti 60.1
Himachal Pradesh
Kinnaur 44.9
Rajasthan S.E. Rajasthan 23.7
Haryana & Punjab Shiwalik Range 31.7
J&K Jammu Region 35.8
Maharashtra Nasik/Thane, Raigad 55
Adilabad 35
Andhra Pradesh Cuddapah 30
Kurnol 40
Gujarat Amerile 35
Bharuch 30
Gujarat cont.. Panchmahalas 45
Surat 30
Raigarh 77
Guna 28
Chattarpur 30
Madhya Pradesh
Jabalpur 30
Panna 30
Raipur 63

6. Causes of forest fire
Grazers
MFP collector
Head Loader
Poachers
Encroachers
Revenge
Tourists/ Pilgrims
Carelessness

7. Regular Fire affected Areas of India

8. Fire season in different States of India

9. Hot spots of India’s Biodiversity under severe threat due to wild fire
(Important Ecosystem in danger)
 Himalayan Ecosystem Manmade Fire – An ecological disaster in Himalayas
Threat to pine forest and sal
forest
Target – Herbs/shrubs/broad
leave species
Causes of Fire
Grazer's,NTFP collectors,
Tourist, Poachers and Farmers
Impact
Soil erosion,water holding
capacity,wiping out broad leave
species, floral and faunal
wealth, entry of invasive
species

10. WESTERN GHAT – SHOLA GRASSLAND
ECOSYSTEM UNDER THREAT DUE TO FIRE
SHOLA GRASSLAND – A FRAGILE ECOSYSTEM UNDER SEVERE THREAT
 IMPACT OF FIRE ON SHOLA
AND GRASSLAND
VEGETATION, MOIST
DECIDUOUS FORESTS AND
DRY DECIDUOUS FORESTS
 SPECIES AFFECTED –
SANDAL, KADUKKAI,
REDSANDERS AND SHOLA
SPECIES
 IMPACT ON
WATER RETENTION,
SOILEROSION, POOR DENSITY
OF VULNERABLE SPECIES,
INVASION OF EXOTICS

11. THE POTENTIAL EFFECT OF FOREST FIRE IN
THE FOREST ECOSYSTEM
 Soil Development and Nutrient  Vegetation and Plant Species
Circulation  Long Term
 Changing Rates of Soil Organic
Matter Formation  Curtailment of Natural Succession &
Regeneration
 Effecting Amounting and
Availability of Minerals  A Mosaic of Successional Stages
Burning Frequency
 Affecting Population of Micro-
organism  Short-Term
 Increase in Soil Erosion with loss of  Affecting Plant Biomass, Structures
Vegetation and Shape
 Affecting Plant Phenology
 Water and Water Circulation  Affecting Forage Nutrient Level
 Changed Rates of Evaporation and
Transpiration
 Species
 Changed Rates of Permeability Sub-
 Altering Pattern of Resource
Surface Flow Availability-Cover Food Water
 Changed Rates of Sediment and  Altering Pattern of Distribution
Water
 Possibility of Mortality
 Changed Stream and River
Structure

12. FOREST FIRE – A SEVERE BLOW TO LIVING WORLD

13. IMPACTS OF FOREST FIRE
 Forest ecosystem  Global warming.
 Change in landscape  Loss of carbon sink resource and
 Effect on photosynthesis increase in percentage of CO2 in the
 Effect on food web atmosphere.
 Change in the microclimate of the
 Effect on seed capacity area with unhealthy living conditions.
 Effect on new recruits  Soil erosion affecting productivity of
 Loss of valuable timber soils and production.
resources.  Ozone layer depletion.
 Degradation of catchment  Health problems leading to disease.
areas.  Loss of livelihood for the tribal and
 Loss of biodiversity and rural poor, as approximately 300
extinction of plants and million people (including 70 million
tribal) are dependent upon collection
animals.
of non-timber forest products from
 Loss of wild-life, habitat and the forest areas for their livelihood.
depletion of wild-life.
 Loss of natural regeneration
and reduction in forest cover.

14. Global Estimation of release of carbon into the
atmosphere due to biomass burning
Source of burning Biomass burned (Tg dry Carbon released
matter/ year) (TgC/year)
Savannas 3690 1660
Agricultural waste 2020 910
Tropical forests 1260 570
Fuel wood 1430 640
Temperate & 280 130
boreal forests
Charcoal 20 30
World total 8700 3940

15. FIRE ENVIRONMENT TRIANGL
Weather
Fuel
Fire
Topography

16. Change in landscape Loss of Photosynthesis
Effect on Seed capacity Fire effects riverine ecosystem

17. Forest Fire – Invasive species correlation
A great threat to Ecosystem due to Invasive behaviour of exotic weed
Gentle heat help in opening the Dormancy of invasive sp. (lantana seed)
New recruits require protection
Entry of Intrusive species in
various landscape of India
Lantana camara
Acacia mearnsii
Eupatorium odoratum
Parthenium sp.
Aegratum sp.
Acacia mearnsii Invasion of Ulex europaeus

18. Impact of forest fire on insect world
Pollination
Amelioration
Food chain
Effect on pollination

19. Impact on Amphibians
 Loss of habitat
 Disappearance
from planet
 Food chain
A new frog spp. From Karian shola
Impact of forest fire on Reptiles
 Loss of habitat
 Food chain
 Suffocation
Monitor lizard- Loss of habitat Pangolin in search of food

20. Impact on birds
 Migration
 Shrinkage of habitat
 Lack of food materials
 Pollination
 Dispersal
 Nesting behaviour
Ground Thrush- Nesting materials are getting declined.
Black Necked Blue Fly Catcher- White-bellied treepie- Crying Migration of Great Hornbill to
Scared of fire due to disturbances higher elevation

21.  Corridor
 Habitat
 Food habit
 Man-animals conflict
 Migration Elephants- Loss of corridor
Giant Squirrels- Habitat Man- animal conflicts- Leopards Vayals- an important feeding
loss are coming out of forests. ground

22. • Due to vast diversity and type of forest, Forest fire has different
period as per site. Forest fire season in Mudumalai starts from
January onward.
• Intensity and frequency get high in the first fortnight of February, due to
sun intensity and coupling with dryness of vegetation.
• The Reserve as a whole had a fire-return interval of 3.3 years.
Compared with a 13 year Mudumalai fire data set from 1909 – 1921
having a fire return interval of 10 years, this represents a threefold
increase in fire frequency over the last 80 years.
Fire Mitigation
1) Pre-fire seasons (preparedness)
2) fire fighting operation (during fire season)
3) Post fire operation

23.  Identification of team leader for the fire fighting team and selection of
team for assigned place.
 The fire fighting equipments are checked before the season and are
kept at proper places. Further, if any additional equipments are
needed the same may be procured and kept ready.
 As per the existing network of fire line estimates are prepared and are
sanctioned before the fire season so that the work can be carried out
before the end of December.
 Strategy for engaging fire watchers and requirement of watchers as
per the utility / vulnerability for fire / fire entry point of the reserve of
the are to be finalized and accordingly estimates are to be prepared
and got sanctioned well in advance.

24. Preparedness Cont ……….
 Massive awareness has to be created well in advance among the
public, local people of core area and adjoining areas so as to
ensure their co-operation for the control of fire with the reserve
management. In this connection the awareness can be created
through district gazette notification, publicity through notice,
through eco-awareness/ Interpretation centers, through media and
through tom - tom in the adjoining area of Reserve. (Case study
documented by IIFM is enclosed herewith vide ANNEXURE – II.)
 All the staff including uniformed staff, fire watchers and anti-
poaching watcher are to be trained before the fire season.
Specialized persons / experts can be engaged for the purpose of
giving training.
 The fire fighting teams, fire watchers and anti poaching watchers
including uniform staff are put in for mock drill for controlling fire.
 The removal of invasive exotic weeds has to be taken up at fire
entry point as well as in vulnerable areas.
 A meeting has to be conducted along with field staff of adjoining
division and state to ensure better protection during fire season.

25. • Direction of wind
• Location of fire
• Upword or down word
• Status of litter
• Status of Vegetation
• Selection of place for counter fire
• Number of persons required.

26. Need of Awareness
Need of Proper Plan
Need of Proper strategy
Need of timely action
Need of Proper coordination
Need of sufficient staff
Need of Proper communication
Need of approach road
Need of sufficient trend
Need of equipment

28. Activities related to Fire Disaster Management Centre

31. Discussion with Staff to develop strategy
for Fire Management at Beat level

33. INTERACTION WITH STAFF BEFORE FIRE SEASON

34. Explaining use of fire equipments to staff

35. Departmental operation before fire season

36. FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENTS
 Fire fighting tools,.
 Drinking water
facility,
 Medical aid kit,
 Fire extinguishers,
 Oxygen cylinder,
 Jaggery
 Stretcher
 Sintex Tank
 Rescue Van

37.  To collect the information from satellite station everyday
 To control vehicle movement along the highway.
 To assign the job to workforce in vulnerable areas.
 To know the firefighting location
 To supply equipment and food material without wasting time.
 To collect laborers and transport to desired destinations.
 To coordinate between Range officers
 To inform the Field Director about the incidence.
 To coordinate with neighboring Ranges, Divisions and states.
 To provide first aid facility at the fire fighting spot.
 To provide ration/ provision/ water to fire fighters.
 To alert the neighboring Ranges, Divisions and states.
 To use the siren in emergency to make the staff alert and act
fast.

39. Awareness regarding Forest Fire - Collabarative Effort

40. Collaborative Awareness around Reserve Forest
Since ban and punish has not worked with ….
Why?
Lack of awareness
Accidental Fire
Sense of responsibility.
It will address
Detrimental effect of forest fire
It will generate awareness of belongingness
It will gain goodwill of the people.
Sense of responsibility for the conservation and protection of forests
Collaborative effort - Coimbatore model
Selection of villages for awareness keeping following criteria in mind .
Most vulnerable
Medium vulnerable
Least vulnerable
Past record of fire
Offence detail Reserve Forest wise and Village wise.

41. Collaborative Awareness around Reserve Forest
Formation of Forest Fire Protection Committee
Selection of pioneer leader
Constitution of committee of committed people
Involvement of local NGO’s
Involvement of local school teachers
Participation of women
Responsibility of committee
For creating awareness
To combat forest fire adjoining village
To give information about the forest fire out break
In apprehending the culprit
Department Action
Teachers Training programme
Organizing social bonding
Building confidence amongst villagers
Award / Reward.
Lastly Institutionalization is needed

42. Fire Induced vegetation
 Fire, play an important role as a forest management tool.
 Dormancy has to be opened of hard coated seed
 Grassland has to be maintained to induce flowering in certain grass
and orchids.
 Herbivores dominated vegetation needs cool burning in an identified
area to support herbivore for palatable grasses
 Some ecosystems are fire adopted and require periodic fires to
maintain biodiversity and ecosystem dynamics.

43. Intervention to help
Forest Fire Management
 Main Goal
Conserve Biodiversity
Wildlife habitat
Restore degraded ecosystem and to conserve sustainable ecosystem goods and
services
 Broader Landscape Management Approach
 Through knowledge of local vegetation
 Type of forest
 Litter load
 Area under Invasive species
 Fire effected area in the past
 Fire entry point - Fireline / blockline
 Protection of wetlands
 Dryness calendar of the Reserve forest
 Role of people’s utilization of goods and services from forest
 Understanding of local stakeholders awareness of the potential of forests to provide ecosystem
goods and services
 To develop grassland – Forest mosaic through a controlled fire.

44. Research on landscape to look into Fire Management
 It should be site specific
 Vegetative barrier has to be identified (local species / site specific)
 Fire dryness indicators
 Study of vegetation dynamics in relation to varying fire frequency and intensity in
different ecosystem ( Wetland, Grassland)
To understand socio- Economic and cultural drivers of forest fire in India
Fire induced ecosystem – related to grazers, hunting, worship and NTFP collection -
Address this issue and to develop mitigation strategy

45. Recommendations
Massive awareness amongst rural masses through campaigns using all
means are needed to get them realize the importance and
responsibilities.
Stronger collaboration amongst neighboring state / Division to develop
fire management strategies
Need to develop scientific data regarding Forest fire incidences and
their proper interpretation to tackle the problem.
Fire Disaster Management Centre at Division level
Beat level Management plan to control Fire.
Strengthening monitoring and communication system.
Improving transport facilities.
Judicious use of forest fire equipments.

46. Recommendations Cont……….
Coordination between fire fighting units.
Effective use of fire squad.
Comprehensive scientific information on Forest fires in the country is scanty and
detailed studies are required for better management of forests
Suitable afforestation technique has to be developed to tackle fire prone areas.
Phyotogeographic zone has to be identified to recloth the area with endemic species.
Effective Forest Fire information system is required at National, State, Regional and
local level.
Forest Fire research Institute with zonal centre is needed to deal With Scientific
package for different biodiversity zone, Capacity building to staff and public,
Extension activities
Silviculture system has to be developed for fire prone areas
Indicator of climatic change in different zone has to be worked out

47. If we want to see these beautiful creatures with
vivid form and colors from one generation to
other, we have to extend our caring hand not
the selfish hand.