Strengthen the know-how for forest fireplace detection

Goa State with the geographical space of three,702 sq km has greater than 60 p.c space below forest cowl as per India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2021 printed by the Forest Survey of India (FSI). 

As regards forest cowl as proportion of geographical space, it ranks ninth within the nation and remarkably sufficient, it’s the solely state amongst these 9 to have recorded a rise in forest cowl from 2019 to 2021.

Considering the placement in addition to standing of Goa’s forests predominantly as part of Western Ghats and one of many world biodiversity hotspots, its safety from fireplace turns into extraordinarily essential.

Despite the truth that Goa has a small geographical space, the variety of SMS subscription to the Forest Survey of India’s current forest fireplace alert system is 502 which, in contrast with the figures of the 9 highest forest cowl proportion states, is at second rank, subsequent solely to Manipur.

The ‘alert level’ in Goa is indicated by the FSI to be on the forest beat stage, which is the smallest unit of administration within the Forest Department. This displays typically the notice of the State relating to use of ‘FSI’ alert system.

FSI captures the prevalence of forest fires and sends alerts by utilizing MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectra-radiometer) sensor on-board Aqua and Terra Satellite of NASA and SNPP-VIIRS (Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership – Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) sensor, a minimum of six occasions in 24 hours. 

The fireplace hotspots detected are processed utilizing normal algorithm. However, the resolutions of MODIS and SNPP-VIIRS are 1 km x 1 km and 375 m x 375 m respectively which put a limitation to the detection of fires which can be small in unfold or which have simply began. Needless to say, well timed detection assumes prime significance as far as safety of forests from fireplace is worried.

FSI has additionally developed and launched a satellite tv for pc based mostly automated system of monitoring for giant forest fireplace (LFF) occasions in 2019. It makes use of SNPP-VIIRS sensor (375 m x 375 m decision) fireplace hotspot knowledge and includes steady monitoring and monitoring of LLF and escalates alerts to get further help from companies like District Administration, Armed forces and so forth. For the entire nation, state-wise particulars of LFF occasions present that in fireplace season 2020-2021 (Nov 2020 to June 2021), a complete of 21,142 LFF occasions have been detected and tracked by FSI. 

Out of this about 59.43% LFF have been extinguished or contained inside 24 hours, 37.72% have been energetic for one to 5 days, 2.70% have been energetic for six to 10 days and 32 LFF (0.15%) continued for greater than 11 to fifteen days. During this time, solely three LLFs have been detected in Goa state and the energetic interval of two LFFs was lower than 24 hours. 

The Van Agni Geo portal managed by FSI offers the locational knowledge of forest fireplace on a district map and in addition the close to Real-Time Forest fireplace detected within the final three days. Forest Fire Danger Ratings are additionally accessible on the portal. 

It is nonetheless essential to grasp that an energetic forest fireplace has to achieve at any level of time an optimum dimension for getting detected by a 375m x 375m decision based mostly system. 

Such detection could also be delayed, particularly when it’s a floor fireplace sweeping the forest ground. The delay can harm large quantum of biodiversity, together with the eco processes therein earlier than the hearth is detected as a LFF. 

Unless its decision stage is improved, the information generated by this method will stay insufficient to create a technique to formulate fireplace administration plans.

The National Institute of Disaster Management, Ministry of Home Affairs got here up with a doc on Forest Fire Disaster Management in 2014, however neither its contents together with solutions have been discovered to be disseminated to the sector personnel of the forestry sector, nor has there been an try and help the sector with sources alongside these traces.

A research in Melghat forests of the adjoining state of Maharashtra revealed that forest fires are brought about to extend the supply of contemporary flush of fodder for cattle throughout the summer time months (Cattle house owners do it, as a result of a lot of the Gochar lands meant for cattle-grazing have both been encroached or distributed).

Fire can also be brought about unintentionally as a consequence of leaping of fireplace from burning of agricultural residue; unfold of fireplace lighted to maintain the wild animals away from crop and cattle; un-extinguished cigarettes and match sticks thrown by travellers, picnickers, nomadic grazers, villagers and even forest labourers.

For need of an applicable regulatory system, Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra with nearly all forest space assigned for administration by group below the Forest Rights Act, has had most variety of fires (10,577) within the nation as per the ISFR 2021.

The must have a well-thought out and applicable statutory framework for shielding pure sources is abundantly illustrated by the instance of latest laws relating to bamboo in our nation. 

There was a requirement that bamboo grown in non-public land shouldn’t require a felling permission or transit permission from forest division. The goal was to advertise bamboo farming in non-public areas. Instead of exempting simply such bamboos, Section 2(7) of Indian Forest Act, 1927 was amended in 2016 to delete bamboo from the class of ‘tree’. 

Due to the modification, bamboo felling and elimination ceased to stay an offence below IFA even in reserve forests. As per ISFR 2021, bamboo bearing space has decreased inside 5 years by greater than 10,594 sq km, which is about seven p.c of complete bamboo bearing space of the nation. Against this background, the latest try and decriminalise the hearth associated offences below IFA maybe wants a re-look.

Even floor fires threaten ecological steadiness, pure regeneration is killed or dies again, quantity increment of assorted species reduces, timber high quality is affected by scorching and fungal an infection, soil moisture is decreased and litter decomposition will get affected, water holding capability of soil goes down and a lot of the rainwater is washed away eradicating prime fertile soil of the forest.

Prevention being higher than treatment, it’s essential to establish the explanations behind forest fires and develop and implement complete fireplace administration plans that substitute the proverbial fire-fighting resorted to yr after yr. 

(The author is former 

Principal chief Conservator 

of Forests, Maharashtra)