- In the context of the Indian summer months, some of the most obvious occurrences, apart from the excruciatingly uncomfortable heat generated, are forest fires and the accompanying challenges posed to the authorities and the nearby people. This phenomenon is not restricted to some of the more arid plains of the country but also to the Himalayan ranges. This is most damaging to the ecologically fragile region already reeling under the impact of volatile weather patterns witnessed over the years. In line with the modern-day requirements, the unprecedented infrastructure developments undertaken in the region have rendered the holistic sustenance of the mountainous terrain quite challenging for the authorities concerned.
PC: The Quint
- Several factors have contributed to the present state of affairs vis-à-vis ever-altering weather patterns around the globe. And the Himalayan region is not immune from the same. More talks on arresting environmental degradation but little work on ensuring on the ground has resulted in challenges galore. Note that in the last five years, the dangerous rise in forest fires across Uttarakhand’s central Himalayas has posed immense challenges. Especially from November to June. Northeast states, once most prone to long-ranging forest fires, pale in comparison to the inferno Uttarakhand finds itself in with increasing intensity and longer duration. Even winter fires have increased manifold in both frequency and intensity.
- Most worryingly, Uttarakhand inaugurated its New Year with a fire raging in the forest behind Nainital, thick smoke billowing on the horizon, and haze over Naini Lake. Indeed, there is heightened global concern over the sharp uptick in forest fires in this Himalayan region, stretching across Uttarakhand and Nepal. The impact is evident – loss of life, belching carbon emissions, shrinking forest area, loss of habitat, and entire microbial ecosystems and biodiversity burnt to cinders. The smoke that travels impacts the health of people over a very large area. Tourism takes a body blow and a crippling impact on the state’s economy and its resources. Dry extreme warming, heatwaves, human activity – what and how forest fires are well documented.
PC: Times of India
- The core question is why Uttarakhand, where forest fires were never a hazard, reached this point. Forests were once over 50% of the state’s land cover. Swathes of forest areas have been sacrificed at the altar of development, much of which has not been judiciously planned or designed. It is long established that deforestation contributes to an increased risk of fire, fragmented forest cover is also a fire risk. Reducing tree cover and ground vegetation dries out forests. In turn, fire-damaged forests are weakened, and deforestation often follows. Post-mortems of forest fires by authorities can only douse the flames but cannot put out the real fire – callous human activity despite the evidence of severe warming and extreme weather events. This must be addressed.
