• UGI USER
  • Mar 19, 2024
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HEAT, ARIDITY, CLEAR SKIES: WHY FORESTS ARE ALREADY ABLAZE IN THE NILGIRIS:

Why in the news?

Forest fires ravaging Indian forests, prompting firefighting efforts; vulnerable regions include Maharashtra, Manipur, and South Indian states.

source:slideserve

About Forest Fires Ravaging Indian Forests:

  • Forest fires have been raging in the Coonoor forest range in the Nilgiris, prompting firefighting efforts by the Indian Air Force and estate forest department.
  • A specialised firefighting tool called the Bambi Bucket, deployed by helicopters, aids in combating wildfires that are difficult to reach from the ground.
  • Forest fires are common in India from November to June, with approximately 36% of the forest cover prone to frequent fires, according to the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2019.
Key Facts about Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (NBR):

●   Location: Spans Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala

●   Established: India’s first biosphere reserve in 1986

●   UNESCO Designation: First Indian biosphere reserve under UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme

●   Tribal Groups: Home to Adiyan, Aranadan, Kader, Kurichian, Kuruman, and Kurumbas

●   Fauna: Includes Nilgiri tahr, langur, slender loris, blackbuck, tiger, gaur, elephant, and marten

●   Endemic Fishes: Nilgiri danio, Nilgiri barb, and Bowany barb

●   Protected Areas: Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Bandipur National Park, Nagarhole National Park, Mukurthi National Park, and Silent Valley