Scientists have established a link between human-induced climate change and wildfires, emphasizing that global warming fosters conditions optimal for forest fires.
Wildfires Explained
A wildfire, which can also be referred to as forest, bush, or vegetation fire, is an uncontrolled and non-prescribed burning of plants in natural settings such as forests, grassland, brush land, or tundras. These fires consume natural fuels and spread based on environmental conditions like wind and topography. Wildfires are often caused by human activities like land clearing and extreme drought, though in rare instances, could be sparked by lightning. Three necessities for wildfire ignition include fuel, oxygen, and a heat source.
The Role of Human-Induced Climate Change
The increase in greenhouse gases due to human activities has resulted in climate system warming with direct impacts such as enhanced air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice, and a rise in the global average sea level. Most of these greenhouse gas increases can be traced back to fossil fuel use and land-use changes.
Global Concern Over Forest Fires
Forest fires have become a worldwide issue due to their increasing areas of impact and longer durations, which are consequences of global warming. Recent historic wildfires include Australia’s largest-ever bushfire, fires in parts of the Arctic, Amazon, central Asia, and California in the Western USA. Additionally, forest fires globally emit billions of tons of CO2 into the atmosphere annually, while smoke exposure-related illnesses lead to the death of hundreds of thousands of individuals.
Key Factors Contributing to Wildfires
Climate change amplifies fire risk by increasing fire weather frequency and severity globally. Fire weather attributes include high temperature, low relative humidity, and strong sustained winds, which carry oxygen and stimulate flame spread. While poor land and forest management contribute to wildfires, they alone do not account for the recent escalation in global fire extent and severity.
IPCC’s Identified Factors
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in their Fifth Assessment Report of 2013 identified additional factors impacting wildfire trends. These include a global increase in average temperatures, frequency, intensity, and the extent of heatwaves, and regional augmentations in the frequency, duration, and intensity of droughts.
Indian Forest Fire Scenario & Monitoring
A 2018 joint study report by India’s Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF&CC) and the World Bank titled “Strengthening Forest Fire Management in India” revealed that 20 districts, representing 44% of all fire detections, accounted for 16% of the forest cover on 3% of India’s land area. The Forest Fire Alert System (FAST 3.0), launched in January 2019, monitors large forest fires separately.
India’s Initiatives to Combat Forest Fires
To counter forest fires, India has rolled out initiatives like the National Action Plan on Forest Fires, 2018, by MoEF&CC, aiming to overhaul forest fire management. The plan proposes nine strategies, including establishing a “Centre of Excellence on Forest Fire Management” at the Forest Survey of India (FSI). Additionally, the Forest Fire Prevention and Management Scheme is a centrally-funded program directed at assisting states in tackling forest fires.
Path to the Future
Despite the undeniably real threat of climate change and the increase in forest fires, effective management can be executed at various levels. Local and regional efforts can minimize accidental man-made fires, national strategies can manage resources such as land and forest to prevent fires, and global initiatives can work towards reducing climate change’s impact. A concerted effort from all nations is required to weaken the link between climate change and forest fires.
