Forest Fires in the Himalaya: A Serious Concern

The Himalaya is one of the most vulnerable geographical units of the world susceptible to forest fires. Every year wildfires destroy considerable forest resources in the region. Forest fires occur due to a variety of reasons and may be both natural and human made. Many forest fires start from natural causes such as lightning which set trees on fire. However, rain extinguishes such fires without causing much damage. However, the forest or pasture may be deliberately set on fire by mountain people to induce succulent grass growth for domestic animals. In addition to this, natural vegetative systems sometimes get extensively damaged when fires spread uncontrollably from burning operations carried out in the adjoining agricultural fields. Another common practise is the burning of wild grass or undergrowth to search for wild animals. Unextinguished campfires of trekkers, shepherd camps or roadside charcoal panners may also spread and cause forest fires. Unextinguished cigarette butts and matchsticks are other important causes of accidental forest fires, especially in areas of dry forests. Besides, lightning or sparks from electric poles in dry areas also causes fires. Up to 90 per cent of the Himalayan forest fire is caused by reckless anthropogenic activities (Bajracharya [undated], Chetri 1994, HPDR 2005).

Forest fires occur annually in all the major physiographic/climatic regions of the Himalaya. With the recent large-scale expansion of chirr pine forests in many areas of the Himalaya the frequency and intensity of forest fires has increased. However, the forests of Western Himalaya are more vulnerable to fires as compared to its Eastern counterpart. This is because forests of Eastern Himalayas grow in high rain density.

Forest fires generally occur from November to June. High atmospheric temperatures, dryness and at times prolonged winter offer favourable circumstance for a fire to start. The severity of the fire varies greatly depending upon fire weather, fuel conditions, and physiography. Once the monsoon is established, usually by the middle of June, the fire problem gradually disappears.

Forest Fire in the Himalaya
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Region, Forest susceptible to fire (approx), Tentative period of forest fire
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Jammu and Kashmir 40% -
Himachal Pradesh 50% February to June
Uttaranchal 69% February to June
Nepal 90% (of Terai forest) February to June
Sikkim 40% November to May
Bhutan 50% November to May
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Source: based on literature review

Forest fires cause immense damage to the Himalayan forest and associated biota every year. They pose a threat not only to the forest wealth but also to the entire regime to fauna and flora seriously disturbing the bio-diversity and the ecology and environment of a region. As fires damage the vegetation, the soil is often exposed to and eroded by wind and water. Occasionally, embers from forest fires also cause fires in nearby mountain villages. Many villages are burned every year with loss of lives, cattle and other property. Forest fires also pose serious health hazards by producing smoke and noxious gases. The burning of vegetation gives off not only carbon dioxide but also a host of other noxious gases such as carbon monoxide, methane, hydrocarbons, nitric oxide and nitrous oxide, that lead to global warming and ozone layer depletion. As a result, often, mountain people suffer from serious respiratory problems due to these toxic gases. Burning forests and grasslands further accelerate the already serious threat of global warming. Recent scientific studies suggest that biomass burning may be a significant global source of methyl bromide, which is an ozone depleting chemical.

Forest fires are usually seasonal phenomena, usually occurring during the dry season. They can be prevented by adequate precautions. As over half of the Himalayan forests are affected by annual forest fire, an effective policy on forest fire prevention and control becomes extremely important. While we do not have a comprehensive national policy in this regard successive Five Year Plans of India have provided funds for forests fighting. Surprisingly, in Nepal forest fire management is not in practice even at present times. The community forest user groups control forest fires in their own forests, although they do not have a plan for systematic prevention and control of fires (Bajracharya [undated]). With respect to Bhutan we do not have any reliable information towards this end.

It would be informative to note the recommendations of modern Forest Control Project that was taken up in five districts of Uttaranchal in early 1990s in view of the frequent and severe forest fires in the region.

They include:

• Development and demonstration of modern fire control techniques
• Preparation of division wise fire management plans
• Estimation of forest fires
• Development and application of a forest danger rating system
• Training of personnel
• Full fire protection of timber depots.
• Manufacture of fire finders and hand tools within the country and standardisation of fire control equipment