The Indian Minister of State for Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) recently detailed the country’s efforts for forest fire management and prevention in response to a query tabled during the Rajya Sabha’s 2020 Budget Session. Approximately 93,273 hectares of land were impacted by forest fires in 2019, including ‘ground fires’ characterized by the burning of ground vegetation. This issue holds significance under the concurrent list of the Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
National Action Plan on Forest Fires
In order to tackle this issue, the MoEF&CC prepared a National Action Plan on Forest Fires (NAPFF) in 2018, developed in collaboration with all Indian states and union territories. The aim of the NAPFF is to minimize the incidence of forest fires. It achieves this through informing, enabling, and empowering communities living on the edges of forests and motivating them to collaborate with state Forest Departments.
The plan also aims to significantly decrease the vulnerability of a variety of forest ecosystems throughout India to fire hazards. A key focus of the strategy is to bolster capabilities of forest personnel and institutions in relation to firefighting and ensuring swift recovery following fire incidents.
Forest Fire Prevention and Management Scheme
Another initiative by the MoEF&CC is the Forest Fire Prevention and Management Scheme (FPM), launched in 2017. The FPM is the only central government funded programme specifically targeting forest fire assistance for states. This scheme came into place as a reform to the Intensification of Forest Management Scheme (IFMS).
The FPM has led to an increase in the fund allocation dedicated to forest fire management. The financing mechanism of the FPM operates through a center-state cost-sharing model, implementing a 90:10 ratio of central to state funding in the Northeast and Western Himalayan regions and a 60:40 ratio for all other states. A feature of this scheme is the flexibility it offers to states to divert a portion of funds received from the National Afforestation Programme (NAP) and the Mission for Green India (GIM) towards forest fire management.
States’ Roles in Forest Fire Management
The Indian Constitution lists forests as a subject in the concurrent list of its Seventh Schedule. This implies that not only the central government but also the state governments have the authority and responsibility to manage and protect the forests within their respective territories. Therefore, the role of states is equally important and crucial in preventing and managing forest fires.
Promotion of Community Participation
The NAPFF not only focuses on institutional reforms and policy changes but also emphasizes the active participation of forest fringe communities. It recognises the importance of local knowledge and collective action in preventing and fighting forest fires.
Aiming for Sustainable Forest Management
The National Action Plan on Forest Fires and the Forest Fire Prevention and Management Scheme are significant initiatives taken by the MoEF&CC. These efforts are guiding India towards the goal of sustainable forest management and biodiversity conservation.
Last Modified: February 7, 2024