Introduction: Since 1984. The forests in the western Himalayas have burned every summer. Now also, forests fires in the hills of Uttarakhand have damaged natural resources. There were forests fires earlier also, but when locals extinguished them, they remained extinguished. In earlier days these forests fires were accidental but nowadays they are intentional as villagers would set fire to the grassy hillside so that with the first rain a new flush of nutritious grass would appear. This time the fire began in the month of February and was spread to most of the forest areas of the state.
Reasons: The major reasons for the forest fires in Uttarakhand are the highly inflammable material of dry chir pine needles and the dry-leaf litter of broad –leaved trees on the forest floor associated with chir pine and also another reason is that the timber contractors can stay in business, commercial builders can clear land of trees to remove the difficulty of obtaining felling permission, villagers can stock up dead fuel wood for cooking and warming themselves, and various other reasons. These pines are inflammable and its open resin ducts are considered as main catalyst of fire but due to the migration of the villagers from Uttarakhand had checked the utilisation of the needles leaving behind fuel for forest fires.
History of the chirpine: Chir pine covers a considerate forest area around 16 percent in the state and every year encroaches on the mixed species due to ban on green felling above 1000 metres.
In Indian mythology, Ganga was deputed to water King Bhagirath’s Himalayan kingdom as reward for his penances. She had not been consulted about this and threw a tantrum, promising to wash away the earth if she were forced to leave heaven. However, the gods could not go back on their word. Lord Shiva saved the day by assuring the other gods that he would spread his dreadlocks across the mountains in order to protect them from Ganga’s fury and that after percolating through his tangled tresses, she would come on to the plains as a peaceful, life giving river.
Dreadlocks were a very appropriate analogy used by the ancients to evoke an image of Himalayan broadleaf forests. The fury of the southwest monsoon broke over the ranges but the heavy downpour is met by a dense canopy of leaves and broken down into a fine spray, which percolates into the soil and recharges the springs and streams that water upland forests and villages.
This is the sort of forest which is required to stabilise water systems in the Himalayas. Historically, such forest was the mainstay of Uttarakhand’s economy, as it provided fodder, humus, perennial springs, fuel, food, medicine and all other human requirements. Dense broadleaf forests covered the hillsides and valleys, while poorer soils along the crest of ridges and very steep slopes was colonised by stands of chir pine. But all this changed with the growing population and European ideas which are applied to the exploitation of Himalayan forests.Today there are very few strands of healthy broadleaf forests in the middle and outer ranges of Uttarakhand.
Problems faced due to Chir Pine: The extensive area covered by chir pine caused various problems. The shedding of pine needles and cones at the beginning of the hot season ensures huge amount of fuel for wildfires, as the resin rich humus covers the ground. When this catches fire, broadleaf forest dies out, enabling the chir pine to spread across. Consequently, chir pine has currently moved to the ridges to cover hillsides, valleys and entire hills. Perennial springs that existed on such hillsides dry up, for the rainwater that would normally have percolated into the soil and fed them through the year rushes into channels, streams and rivers that disgorge themselves onto the plains, causing floods.
Statistics: Over 4,500 hectares have been affected in Himachal Pradesh, some 40% more than the 3,185 hectares in Uttarakhand. The latter state has seen 1,470 incidents of fire so far — 803 of which were in the Garhwal region, 463 (1,076.21 ha) in Kumaon, and 204 (695.65 ha) in wildlife zones. With 10,000 personnel and two IAF choppers fighting the blaze. In Himachal Pradesh, 578 incidents of fire have been reported so far, affecting six districts: Shimla, Solan, Una, Bilaspur, Kangra, Hamirpur and Sirmaur.
A report prepared by National Institute of Disaster Management states that about half of India’s forests were prone to fires. 43% were prone to occasional fires and 5% to frequent fires, and 1% was at high or very high risk.. Also the FSI report submitted that 95% of wildfires in India are man-made.
Solutions: There are already preventive measures for forest fires, implemented by the state and the central government in vulnerable areas. One such model is of Van Panchayat which effectively manages forest. But these forest authorities need modern methods for combating forest fires. The pine needles which is the main reason behind fire, needs to be converted into a resource for the community by extending capital and industrial support. Some of the measures can be of forests self help groups with the link to the industry for the removal of needles with the help of villagers for making bio-briquettes, compost or vermicompost, composite boards e.t.c. Further this can be connected with scheme like MGNREGA which will give double benefit i.e. removing pine needles as well as providing employment.
There can be another method also in order to reduce this fire that is the plantation of broad-leaved, moisture conserving species. Modern fire-fighting techniques like Early Forest Fire Detection Using Radio Acoustic Sounding System, Doppler radar e.t.c seems to be reasonable options. Last but not the least communication like electronic or social media plays an important role in reducing fire.
My Opinion: Though fires have been ravaging Uttarakhand’s forests for about three months, central and state authorities have woken up to the damage far too late. Only after several of these localized fires spread and damaged flora and fauna in six Uttarakhand districts, has the issue received the attention it deserved. Hence, in fire control strategy, the stress should be laid on prevention rather than curing. Curing is futile after the loss of biodiversity, forest wealth and lives. And also I would also lay stress on the point that the main reason for the spread of this fire should be converted into a resource which is the pine needles, the main fire hazard, needs to be converted into a resource for the community by extending capital, technological and industrial support for their effective utilization and as a livelihood opportunity. They can be used in briquettes, compost, boards, tiles, etc.
Article by: Shubhangi Gupta
Institute of law, Nirma University
7th semester
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