Srinagar- In recent weeks, the valley has seen a significant rise in forest fire incidents prompting authorities to place men and machinery on high alert. At least 15 forest fire incidents were reported in Kashmir over the past fortnight, spanning across various regions including Karnah, Shopian, Kulgam, Ganderbal, Uri, Bandipora, Tral, Sopore, and Doda, among others.
Not confined to the valley, forest fires were also reported in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on January 6, subsequently spreading to the Indian side, leading security forces to be on alert to thwart any potential infiltration attempts facilitated by the blaze. The fire extended to the forest area along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir.
The UT is richly endowed with diverse forest resources crucial for preserving the local ecosystem and acting as catchments for important Himalayan Rivers. Forests play a pivotal role in soil conservation and water security, meeting the needs of the local population for timber, firewood, fodder, and other forest produce.
According to Srinagar-based independent Weather Forecaster, Faizan Arif Keng, the surge in forest fire incidents in Jammu and Kashmir can be traced back to the prolonged absence of precipitation.
“Over the last 40 days, no active Western Disturbance has affected the region, resulting in a dry atmosphere. This extended dry spell has deprived the vegetation of essential moisture, leaving it highly susceptible to ignition,” he explained.
What triggers forest fire?
The officials and the environmental experts blame persistent dry spell in Kashmir as the main reason for the bush fire. However, concerns have been raised about the non-seriousness of the J&K forest department in protecting the forest from jungle smugglers and other miscreants, leading to the outbreak of such incidents.
Shabir Ahamd, a lawyer from Srinagar, underscored that human activity remains a key driver of the forest fires, particularly due to the uncontrolled cutting of trees to produce charcoal during the dry season. This practice often leads to incomplete extinguishing of fires, ultimately resulting in forest fires.
“This could be prevented by the government but who facilitates them into the forests. It needs to be investigated,” Shabir said.
“The valley’s forests boast abundant flora and fauna, including valuable medicinal plants. Any fire incident would bring catastrophic consequences to this biodiversity hotspot,” he added.
Irfan Rasool, Chief Conservator of Forests, North Circle, acknowledged the traditional occurrence of forest fires during the autumn season but highlighted the elevated incidence during winters in alignment with the ongoing dry spell.
“The department has mobilized forest protection forces to address these incidents. The locals are also helping us,” he said.
However, Irfan argues that fire has been an integral part of the functioning of numerous forest ecosystems since decades. He said that forests are classified into two parts—Northern and Southern part, and most of the fire incidents are reported in the southern part of forests.
“The northern part of the forest, rich with forest crops, is shaded from direct sunlight, preventing damage. However, the southern part, being drier, is more susceptible to forest fires,” he elaborated.
Notably, the fire incidents were reported just a week after the Forest Survey of India’s (FSI) alarm predicting forest fires across Jammu and Kashmir.
The Forest Survey of India holds a pivotal role in monitoring and evaluating the nation’s forest reserves.
A concern
Forest fires are recognized as one of the most serious environmental hazards causing huge damage to forest fauna and flora, including soil inhabitants.
Forest fire incidences can also adversely affect human health. Forest fires release huge amounts of pollutants such as particulate matter, carbon monoxide and oxides of nitrogen, sulfur dioxide and organic compounds.
Experts say that the particulate matter has potentially detrimental health effects as they penetrate deep into the human lungs causing respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
Lately, forest fires in Kashmir have become a recurring issue that raises concerns about environmental conservation and ecological balance. According to official data, the UT has reported around 1700 forest fires for the last six-years.
The officials of the forest department maintain that most of the fire incidents occurred due to manmade activities, where least fire incidents have occurred by nature.
Roshan Jaggi, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest and Head of Forest Force in UT told Kashmir Observer that they have put forest protection forces on alert and measures are being taken to stop the forest fire.
However sources from the forest department told Kashmir Observer the department lacks a good infrastructure to tackle forest fire and many forest guards got injured while dozing off the fire.
Rasool, acknowledged that the dozing-off of the fire is challenging but maintained that their men are experienced enough to tackle any forest fire, even though the terrain is tough.
“They have fire extinguishers, hand equipment have made fire rings to control the fire,” Rasool added.
Dr. Akhlaq Amin Wani, Professor and Head, Division of Natural Resource Management, Faculty of Forestry SKUAST-K argues that increase in human settlements near the forests is the main reason for the spike in forest fires.
“The fire chances remain high in those areas falling in vulnerable zones, where the accessibility of the human is high,” he added.
Notably, in 2021, the Department of Ecology, Environment & Remote Sensing in a study highlighted that with global changes in climate taking place, factors such as low and irregular winter precipitation, dry autumn and spring seasons create an environment conducive for the forest fires to take place.
The report titled as “Forest Fire Vulnerability of Jammu and Kashmir” mapped and defined the actual incidence of fire reported during 2012-2018.
In the study area total numbers of forest fire incidents reported were 4392 during the period under study, (2002-2018) in 6795 compartments. The total numbers of 30 forest divisions comprising 102 ranges.
The study analyzed that in the Jammu region, three divisions are highly vulnerable namely Jammu, Nowshera and Reasi, showing the highest number of fire incidents.
In Kashmir region, division Bandipora shows highest numbers of forest fire incidences.
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