Underlining that the key to combating wildfires is early detection, a team of researchers has favoured high-tech Forest Rescue Service of Rhineland, Germany-type system to monitor fire outbreaks in the Odisha’s Similipal Biosphere Reserve, where such mishaps are becoming a regular feature.
The Rhineland Germany fire alert system uses satellite technology and aerial photography to ensure forest maps at a scale of 1 : 25,000 giving minute details of all significant components such as water reservoirs, fire breaks and fire lines. “This helps the authorities to minimize the losses,” said the researchers whose study is published in the Current Science.
Outbreaks of fire are not a new thing in this reserve in Mayurbhanj district, which is one of the largest in Asia and home to a plethora of rich flora and fauna. However, in early those years, the Reserve experienced a prolonged dry spell, exacerbated by a below-average monsoon in the previous year, accompanied by widespread fires within the reserve. The specific cause of the fires that occurred in early 2021 has not been yet established.
Keeping in mind this particular 2021 case, the researchers said, “An important measure is to build fire-fighting reservoirs like underground cisterns or natural water reservoirs within or near the forested areas, since water is the primary means to fight forest fires.”
The authors of the study included Arghya Chakrabarty, Debaaditya Mukhopadhyay, Krishna Giri and Gaurav Mishra from Jorhat based Rain Forest Research Institute.
Presently, pointed out the researchers, “The Forest Department uses fire-fighting maps at a scale of 1 : 50,000 using the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) geographic coordinate system. However, with advancements in satellite technology and aerial photography, more detailed district maps at a scale of 1 : 25,000 or 1 : 10,000 may be used.”
Also, detailed emergency and deployment plans can be effective to control fire outbreaks. In general, reduction in wildfire induced losses is only possible through consideration of the overall climatic scenario of the country.
Spread over 5569 Km2, the reserve is home to 94 species of orchids, 42 species of mammals, including the melanistic tiger (Panthera tigris), 29 species of reptiles, 231 species of avian fauna, 12 species of amphibians and more than 3000 floral species.
However, the only source of ecological vulnerability is forest fire as evidenced by the recent wildfire which lasted for over two weeks and affected over one-third of the total area under the reserve.
Also, edaphic factors, geological conditions and climatic parameters maintain the thin line between a controlled fire and a wildfire.
Climatological shifts as characterized by changes in temperature, humidity, rainfall and wind velocity combined with fuel accumulation magnify an annual controlled fire into a destructive wildfire, noted the researchers.