Once, Odisha was very rich in ecosystem diversities. Every eco-system generally influences the regional climate. The problem of forest fire which destroys large swathes of green covers every year during summer is yet to get a solution from the departmental authorities.
Now, the entire forest of Odisha is burning with the arrival of summer and atmospheric heat risen up. The entire summer is taken as vulnerable period so far as forest fire is concerned. Fire is not new to the tropical and sub- tropical forests, but definitely its frequency has increased over the years and the authorities look completely helpless in developing mechanism to tackle the menace.
State’s forests commonly bear large number of trees having oil and resin content, which are inflammable. The alpine forests are not susceptible to fire as much as forests in the tropical and sub-tropical region, which are more inflammable and burn twice and even thrice during fire season. In tropical forests, Sal which is a dominant plant species bears oil as well as resin which are susceptible to fire. So the Sal forests of Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh are more prone to annual fire during the summer season. Similarly, the bamboo forests of these States are a major cause of fire. Certain undergrowths and foliages of the tropical and sub- tropical forests also burn fast in these forests.
Forest dwellers and people living in close proximity of forest blocks always depend on forests for their socio-economic needs. These people venture into forests for collecting various minor forest products like Sal seed, Kendu leaf, Mahua flowers, resin, lac and so on. For their own convenience of collecting these items, they set fire to the forests. Similarly, unscrupulous forest executives, who are involved in thefts of forest resources, deliberately set fire to forest to conceal evidences and go scot free.
Majority of forest fire incidents are caused by the people of the Forest department, who are engaged in collection of Kendu leaf. The new green Kendu leaves have high demand among the bidi makers. The stumps and roots of Kendu plants carry profuse dormant buds, which develop a number of new plants. There is a Government provision that the Kendu bushes be cleared off annually so that new leaves sprout.
But a large portion of the sums earmarked for the purpose is embezzled by the forest employees and on the contrary, they ask people to set fire to the Kendu forests so that the old leaves and stumps are reduced to ashes and it becomes easy for them to lay their hands on the new leaves.
The writer was posted in Kendu leaf division for several years and has the experience of what happens on ground to collect Kendu leaves. The corruption has been deep rooted in the forest organisation since it took over the management of Kendu leaf from private parties. The same practice is being followed in the neighbouring States like MP and Jharkhand also. Summer is the best time to collect fruits, flowers, honey wax and capture wild animals.
The primary collectors use fire to make the ground clean for harvesting the minor forest produces. The bamboo forests are very much prone to fire. Bamboos are major species within the Sal forests of tropical and sub- tropical India. Fire also adds to the atmospheric temperature. Districts like Sambalpur, Kalahandi, Balangir, Sundergarh, Koraput and Mayurbhanja are experiencing over 420 Celsius at the beginning of the summer.
Since these districts are forest rich, regular incidents of fire in forests shoots up their atmospheric warmth. Many rivers of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh are originating from the Eastern Ghat range. But when the whole of Eastern Ghat is on fire, it causes irreparable losses not only to the forests but also to the river systems. The high temperature of the region also causes havoc for the faunal resources.
There are two national parks and 16 wild life sanctuaries within Odisha, which are mostly covering the Eastern Ghat region. They are the representatives of ecological diversities. Once there is fire, it destroys thousands of years of ecological process of the nature and hence, brings colossal losses. Not only the genetic diversities are lost, the texture and structure of the soil and soil profile, which cannot provide motherly treatments to the diversified flora land faunal composition of the eco- systems, also get destroyed.
Similarly, the ashes of the burnt plants and animal bodies reduce the stickiness of the swamp and other soils, where soil recreation is poor. Wild fire is thus harmful and a destructive practice for bio- climatic regions.
There are some very sensitive flora and fauna which do not appear once annihilated by fire. Similipal forests of the Eastern Ghat region spreads over an area of 2,750 sq km. The Similipal itself is home to many unique varieties of flora and fauna. It has 1,076 species of plants, including 94 varieties of orchids.
Similarly, it provides habitat for 42 varieties of mammals, 231 species of birds and 29 species of reptiles. The Similipal is a land of tigers which accommodates a large number of tigers of the State. Besides, spotted deer, barking deer, mouse deer, hornbills, peacock python, cobra, king cobra, several lizards, honeybees, parakeets, parrots, crocodiles, black bears, porcupines and many other verities of snakes and reptiles are found within this glorious land. The authorities must remain vigilant to the safety of the resources in the national park. Fire can destroy its landscape and avenues and cause great harm to its natural scenic values.
Not only Similipal, but also other 16 wild life sanctuaries and the Bhitarkanika national park have their own individual charms and bounty. We must not show any lapses in protecting them. The strategy to save the unique resources includes consensus building with the local people who are a part of the ecosystems, information assembly and analysis at the grass roots level taking the people in to confidence, policy formation for intensive fire fitting guidelines and action planning and implementation.
(The writer is a former senior forest officer and an environmentalist)