Impact of Forest Fires in Uttarakhand: A Persistent Concern for Central Himalaya

1. Vineet Kumar
   Centre for Studies in Science Policy (CSSP), Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi.
2. Sarvesh Suyal
   Dept. of Botany, D.B.S. (P.G.) College, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
3. Rakesh Prasad
   Dept. of Geography, D.B.S. (P.G.) College, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
   *Corresponding author: rakeshprasad.jnu@gmail.com

Abstract

Covering an almost three-fourth area of Uttarakhand, the mountains of Central Himalaya have large green patches which are largely fire sensitive zones. The forests experience severe fires on an annual basis, impacting the local inhabitants, flora and fauna and environment. It usually happens in summer season when dry conditions are present which marks the onset of fire season. Apart from this, some incidences of fire are now occurring even before the fire season. Thus, the onset of autumn in every year brings a list of problems for the forest department. A lack of moisture in the atmosphere leads to the accumulation of dry foliage on the forest floor which encourages the small fires to grow rapidly. They are thought to be caused by local people to make place for agriculture, inadvertent dropping of Bidi buds, clearing forests for timber, etc. In 2016, the forest fires were raging continuously for 4-5 months across the state. They became the worst nightmare for the government officials, forest authorities, environmentalists and the inhabitants, as the forests of the Shivalik and the Middle Himalaya were severely affected. This was widely reported in the national and local newspapers, magazines and online media. Since these fires covered the whole of the state and its intensity didn’t exist in the collective living memories of local people, it became the rallying feature in the national and local media. Therefore, to understand the reasons of forest fires, this study has employed content analysis method. Accordingly, the paper seeks to produce an epistemological account of the phenomena of forest fires and investigate its nature, causes and impacts in reference to Uttarakhand.

Keywords: Pinus roxburghii (Chir pine), Forest Fire, Uttarakhand, Climate Change, Himalaya