NDMA Hosts Workshop on Challenges in Forest Fire Management

Why in the news?

NDMA, with the Environment Ministry, held a workshop addressing India’s increasing forest fire risks, focusing on early warning systems, infrastructure enhancement, and community-based strategies for effective fire management.

About NDMA Hosts Workshop on Forest Fire Challenges:

  • The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), in partnership with the Environment Ministry, conducted a workshop titled “Forest Fire and Its Challenges” in New Delhi.
  • Representatives from various states, along with experts, policymakers, and practitioners in forest fire management, attended to address the increasing threat of forest fires in India.
  • The workshop emphasised India’s growing vulnerability to forest fires due to factors like climate change, rising temperatures, and urbanisation, with recent incidents in Odisha’s Simlipal National Park and regions in Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand highlighting the issue.

NDMA Hosts Workshop on Challenges in Forest Fire Management

Focus on Preventive Measures and Community Engagement:

  • The event highlighted the need for robust early warning systems and improved infrastructure to prevent and manage forest fires.
  • A community-focused approach was encouraged to involve local populations in proactive fire management efforts.
  • Developing community participation and empowering local stakeholders were deemed essential for effective forest fire mitigation.

What is a Forest Fire?

  • Definition: Also known as a bush fire, vegetation fire, or wildfire; it is the uncontrolled burning of plants in natural settings like forests, grasslands, or tundra.
  • Essential Elements: Requires three elements for combustion: Fuel, Oxygen, and Heat source.

Classification of Forest Fires:

  • Surface Fire: Burns along the ground, consuming surface litter like leaves and dry grasses.
  • Underground Fire: Low-intensity fires that burn organic matter beneath the surface, difficult to detect and control.
  • Canopy or Crown Fires: Spread through the upper canopy of trees, fueled by high winds and dry conditions.
  • Controlled Deliberate Fires: Intentionally set fires to reduce fuel loads and promote ecosystem health.

Government Initiatives:

  • National Action Plan for Forest Fires (NAPFF): Launched in 2018 to reduce forest fires by empowering local communities.
  • Forest Fire Prevention and Management Scheme (FPM): Government-sponsored program aiding states in forest fire management.

Sources Referred:

PIB, The Hindu, Indian Express, Hindustan Times