According to the 2019 report by the Forest Survey of India (FSI), approximately 21.40% of India’s forest cover is susceptible to fires, with the most vulnerable forests located in the north-eastern region and central India. The FSI conducted a study of Forest Fire Points (FFPs) identified across India from 2004 to 2017 and discovered a total of 2,77,758 FFPs during this 13-year period. These FFPs were analyzed using a Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) by overlaying the points coverage over the grid coverage of 5 km x 5 km.
About Forest Survey of India
The Forest Survey of India (FSI) holds a premier position as a national organization under the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests. It is primarily tasked with the assessment and regular monitoring of India’s forest resources.
The Breakdown of Fire-Prone Areas
The FSI report further categorizes the fire-prone areas into three distinct categories: Extremely fire-prone areas account for 3.89% of total forest cover, very highly fire-prone areas account for 6.01%, and highly fire-prone areas for 11.50%. Collectively, these three categories make up 21.40% of forest cover.
Alerts Based on MODIS
From November 2018 to June 2019, a total of 29,547 alerts were generated based on MODIS. Mizoram recorded the highest number of fire alerts at 2,795. In fact, the north-eastern region accounted for about one-third of all alerts in the country. Central Indian states also documented a high number of forest fire alerts.
| State | Forest Fire Alerts |
|---|---|
| Madhya Pradesh | High |
| Maharashtra | High |
| Odisha | High |
| Chhattisgarh | High |
The Impact on Forest Cover
Despite an overall increase in the country’s green cover, the forest cover in the north-eastern states, especially Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, and Nagaland, has seen a decrease. Uncontrolled forest fires can lead to significant loss of forest cover. Climate change has also been observed to influence the frequency and intensity of forest fires, making forests even more susceptible to catching fire.
Main Causes of Forest Fires
Thunderstorms rank as the most likely natural cause for forest fires, but in central India, the causes are primarily manmade. These often occur when individuals visiting the forests leave behind burning bidis, cigarette stubs or other flammable materials. In the north-east, slash-and-burn agriculture, also known as jhoom or jhum cultivation is a major reason for forest fires. Interestingly, the north-east’s tropical evergreen forests do not easily catch fire on their own like the dry deciduous forests of central India.