Question : Forest Fires

(a) whether the forest fire destroys forest wealth including wildlife in various parts of the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof during the last three years and the current year, State/ UT-wise;
(c) whether the Government has conducted any study to assess the extent of loss caused due to forest fires and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the Government has received satellite alerts for such fires and if so, the satellite alerts received during the last three years and action taken thereon;
(e) whether 90 per cent of the forest fires in the country are man-made and the fire is set on to destroy evidence of nonperformance of forest departments, and also for the re-financing of plantations and if so, the details thereof along with the other reasons identified for forest fires; and
(f) whether the Government has formulated any action plan to effectively control the forest fires during the summer months, if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government forest management in the country?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a),(b)& (c) Forests are home to large number of flora and fauna including birds, reptiles, insects, butterflies etc. in addition to large animals. The forest fire does cause damage to the flora and fauna which constitutes the forest wealth. However, due to various preventive measures for forest fire management by the forest department in the state the loss of forest wealth is reduced to great extent. Though the incidences of forest fires have been reported during fire seasons in the form of forest fire alerts provided by Forest Survey of India, no death of wild animals due to forest fire has been reported by the State Governments and the Government has not conducted any special study in this regard.

(d) Forest Survey of India (FSI), Dehradun, a subordinate organization of this Ministry in collaboration with National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), Hyderabad, disseminates forest fire alerts detected using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectro- Radiometer (MODIS) sensor aboard Aqua and Terra satellites on a near-real time basis to the State Forest Departments and other registered users. The State & UT-wise number of forest fire alerts disseminated are given in Annexure-I.

(e) Majority of forest fire is caused by anthropogenic reasons. The fire materials in the form of dried leaves and grasses, bushes, pine needles etc. accumulates on the floor and is potential fire hazards. The most common reason of forest fire include burning of forest floor for fresh flush of grass for grazing, discarded cigarettes, sparks from equipment and vehicles etc. The fires used for cooking in the forest area by labourers are also responsible for forest fire. Wildfires also occurs in communities practicing shifting cultivation, where land is cleared for farming.
Nothing has been reported by the state governments where the forest has been put on fire to destroy evidences of non-performance of forest department and for refinancing of plantation activities.

(f) The Ministry has formulated National Action Plan on Forest Fire and circulated to all State/UT Governments for taking appropriate action for effective prevention and management of forest fire.
Further, the Ministry supports the efforts of State/Union Territory Governments in prevention and control of forest fire by providing financial assistance for various forest fire prevention and management measures such as creation and maintenance of fire lines in forest areas, engagement of fire watchers, creation of water storage structures in forest areas, strengthening of forest infrastructure, procurement of fire fighting equipments, Soil and Moisture Conservation (SMC) works in high risk areas, awareness creation, incentivizing villages/communities for protection against forest fire etc. under the Centrally Sponsored Forest Fire Prevention and Management (FPM) Scheme. The details of fund released to State/ UT Governments for various forest protection measures including forest fire prevention and management under the erstwhile Intensification of Forest Management Scheme (IFMS) and the ongoing Forest Fire Prevention and Management (FPM) Scheme during the last three years is given in Annexure-II.

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