‘Burning’ Issue- Our Forests

These lightning photos are not bonfire or some celebration but rather our burning forests….

During the summer season, starting from January till the first shower in May/June, the whole of the country’s forests faces the threat of devastating forest fires which destroys thousands of hectares of our natural resources.

Reasons

The main reason for the burning of dry forests in the summer time is the human activities inside the forest such as grazing, NTFP collection, irresponsible tourism etc.

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Forest department’s personnel throughout the country fights these forest fires very bravely. Fires are mainly extinguished by traditional methods (like beating the fire with a bundle of branches) or using modern equipment, and with the help of local communities. It is a highly risky job in some of the most difficult terrains of the country. Many green hero’s lives are lost every year.

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Effects

• These forests fires affect the Health of the people.
• It increases GHG (greenhouse gas emissions)
• It causes Deforestation which results in increasing Global warming & Climate change
• Forest fires leaves ashes behind which erode  the soil and destroy the balance in its nutrients. Also, irreplaceable Loss of Biodiversity occurs which imbalances the natural system. 

Suggestions

• There is a need to develop fire emergency in a timely manner.
• Addressing this problem worldwide to take proper action to control fire in an integrated manner, by involving global communities (UNEP, GECCO, UNDP, IUCN etc.), environmental agencies at national levels and other communities at the local level.
• Proper availability of fund for the fire management should be there by the govt.
• Adopting the ‘Early Warning Alert System’.
• Getting pre-fire alerts by providing various parameters (temperature, forest density, humidity, previous data etc), fire occurrences can be avoided. 
• By introducing new techniques for forest ‘fire prevention and management’ and upgrading the existing system, we can prevent fire issues.

My two cents

• <> There is a need to change the attitude of people towards environmental issues such as forest fires.
• <> We should be more careful to not throw waste /burning materials inside forests on our road trips and
• <> Also aware of locals/communities to not use matchsticks/other burning materials and fire activities inside forest areas.

During the Corona period, we have realized the importance of oxygen and the strength of our lungs. Similarly, forests are the lungs of mother earth that provide oxygen to us.

Be a responsible human being and protect our forests and save the Mother Earth because there is no other home for us.

There is no Planet ‘Earth’ B

रुपक

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