A team of experts assessing the impact of Uttarakhand forest fire on wildlife, birds, flora and fauna fears loss to nearly 300 avian species found in the State whose breeding season falls between March and May.
To reduce chances of forest fires in the country, Forest Survey of India (FSI) is working on technology to develop early warning system, whereby it will be able to alert the concerned Forest Department on the possibility of fire setting in a particular area.
The team of experts from Gurukul Kangri University, Uttarakhand, led by Dr Dinesh Bhatt, Dean of the Department of Wildlife and Zoology, has so far surveyed the forest terrain of Pauri Garhwal and Haridwar. While assessing the impact of forest fires on the wildlife and birds the team would also suggest ways to lessen the impact of fires on forest terrain.
Uttarakhand is home to nearly 623 species of birds. Of these the worst affected in the fire are likely to be the Himalayan Monal (State bird of Uttarakhand), various species of Tragopan, pheasants, and numerous others, whose breeding season begins prior to onset of summer and continues till May.
The experts are expected to submit their detailed report by the end of this month. Apart from providing the details of bio diversity loss, the report would also serve as a guideline for the Government, the Forest Department and local people on how to deal with forest fires in future.
Meanwhile, as per a report by the Forest Survey of India (FSI), fire is a major cause of degradation of Indian forests, adding that the country has weak data on forest fires and management. The FSI analysis also said 90 per cent of forest fires are created by humans, affecting around 6.77 lakh hectares of forest land every decade.
However, according to experts, the need of the hour is to stay vigilant and douse the fire immediately at the initial stages itself.
The States as Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and those in the North-east, where the forest cover is thick are particularly vulnerable to forest fires. During summer, such incidents are rampant as the forest floor is covered with dry leaves and twigs which can burst into flames by the slightest spark.
There are provisions of fire watchers, who are expected to keep an eye on the jungle and raise an alarm whenever there detect such an incident. This would help in mobilising the fire fighting machinery with immediate effect. Fire watch towers located in the jungles, need to be manned round the clock especially during the vulnerable summer months, recommended the experts.
To add to the above, satellite imageries if regularly monitored can also help detect forest fires before they get out of control, to save money and lives, they said. The experts stressed on the need to draw up concrete strategies, to prevent such unpardonable and irreparable loss of forest cover in the country.