The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has recently provided directives to the Kerala Forest Department. The instructions were for the department to share a report within one month, detailing the actions taken against forest fires and the implementation of the National Action Plan on Forest Fire in the state. This article aims to provide detailed insights into this matter.
The Impact of Forest Fires
Forests fires play a crucial role in preserving the health of forests by helping the regeneration of tree species, eliminating invasive weeds and pathogens, recycling nutrients, and maintaining wildlife habitat. However, the escalating demands on forest resources and growing populations have disrupted the fire cycle balance. This imbalance has propelled forest fires into a significant global concern.
Many countries are witnessing increasing forest fire areas due to global warming. Consequently, fire seasons are getting longer and more widespread. It’s estimated that forest fires worldwide release billions of tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere annually. Furthermore, several hundred thousand people reportedly succumb to illnesses caused by smoke exposure from landscape and forest fires.
Causes of Forest Fires
There are both human-made and natural causes for forest fires. Thunderstorms are the primary natural cause, especially in the dry deciduous forests of central and southern India, which face an extended dry period making them susceptible to fires. Human activities such as leaving behind inflammable materials like burning bidis or cigarette stubs, contribute significantly to the problem.
Slash-and-burn cultivation or ‘jhum’ cultivation is a prevalent cause of forest fires in north-east India. Contrarily, the tropical evergreen forests in the North-East do not naturally catch fire easily compared to the dry forests of central and southern India.
India’s Initiative to Combat Forest Fires
To minimise the frequency and damage caused by forest fires, India launched the National Action Plan on Forest Fires (NAPFF) in 2018. This plan was initiated to inform, enable and incentivise forest fringe communities to collaborate with State Forest Departments. Moreover, the plan aims to reduce the forests’ vulnerability to fire hazards across various ecosystems.
Another significant step taken under this initiative is enhancing the capabilities of forest institutions and personnel in managing fires and ensuring a swift recovery afterwards.
Forest Fire Prevention and Management Scheme
The centrally funded Forest Fire Prevention and Management Scheme (FPM) was established specifically to assist states in dealing with forest fires. It replaced the earlier Intensification of Forest Management Scheme (IFMS) in 2017.
The funding for this scheme is distributed according to a center-state cost-sharing formula. The Northeast and Western Himalayan regions get funds in a 90:10 central to state funding ratio, while all other states get a 60:40 ratio. Moreover, the National Afforestation Programme (NAP) and Mission for Green India (GIM) have the flexibility to allocate funds towards forest fire works.
Under the National Mission for Green India, the government is making a conscious commitment to enhance forests and tree cover as part of India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change. By 2030, under its Nationally Determined Contribution, India aims at bringing 33% of its geographical area under forest cover and creating additional CO2 sinks capable of storing 2.5 to 3 billion tons in its forests.