FOREST CRITICAL TO THE ISSUE OF CLIMATE SECURITY: S REGUPATHY

Shri S. Regupathy, Minister of State for Environment and Forests said that today climate change is no more a future threat but we are already in it. Inaugurating a two-day National Workshop on Forest Fires, he further said in the emerging scenario forests will be critical to the issue of climate security. Forests are not only impacted by the climate change but also are natural resources that impact the climate. Any destruction/deforestation of forest areas will contribute to enhancing the rate of climate change. Forest fires, not only contribute significantly to Green Houses Gases (GHG) emission but loss of resource renders the area more vulnerable to climate change. Therefore, it is imperative that we must make efforts to protect forest wealth which is the best cover for climate security.

Shri Regupathy said that forests fires are an area of concern as every year large extent of forest areas are affected by forest fires. In India, forest fires are annual feature. Consequences of uncontrolled forest fires are serious degradation of forests, ecological changes as well as deterioration of social and economic conditions. The main ecological damage occurs in form of destruction of biodiversity extinction of plants and animals, deterioration of soil ecosystem resulting in erosion and loss of soil fertility, loss of wildlife habitat and depletion of wildlife, degradation of watershed zone resulting in loss of water as well destruction of natural regeneration leading to forest reduction. Ecological and social losses due to fire destruction include losses of valuable timber resources, NTFP fuel wood and fodder. The factors like high biotic pressures, large areas of dry, deciduous forests, hot and dry climate etc. render the precious wealth of forests prone to the current fires. In such circumstances along with conventional approach for fire prevention, reduction and control need to be planned properly. Besides this we must look newer and effective methods of fire detection modeling and control. Effective and fast response tools like remote sensing and GIS based assessments in conjunction with ground data can play a significant role.

Ms. Meena Gupta, Secretary, Environment and Forests, said that the policy towards fire in India has been one of separation for atleast the past century. She said the National Forest Policy of 1988 emphasizes forest protection against fires and also stresses the use of improved and modern fire management practices which echoed in various forest protection schemes and guidelines issued. She said much has been changed over the past century in our perception and understanding of both – fires and forests. The forests are not just a source of timber but also a source of essential eco system, goods and services. Fire suppression leads to build up of flammable materials and can result in occasional fire out breaks. She further added that fires in forests are essential to maintain eco system of dynamics, bio diversity and productivity. Therefore, she said this is a good time to revisit our perspective on fires in this altered context. We should think fire as part of our tool kit for sustainable forest management. To some extent, this is already being practiced. Some state forest departments use fire as a means to create and maintain habitat for certain species of wildlife in protected areas; many forest departments use prescribed fires to create fire lines, thereby preempting the occurrence of more intense and destructive fires. we need to institute research and monitoring of both the ecological and the socio-economic consequences of fire. This is necessary both to determine the potential benefits of fire, as well as to determine what kind of fire management may, or may not, be appropriate in different ecological settings.

Shri D.N.Tewari, Vice Chairman, State Planning Board, Chattisgarh, in his key-note address said that a good level of fire management involves fire prevention, detection and pre-suppression and suppression. Most of the countries have lost to prevent the setting up fires and have developed fire prevention programmes but only few of them have ability to enforce them. Shri Tewari said early warning systems and fire danger rating systems are increasingly being used. The remote sensing data and number of satellite and airborne remote sensing systems help impressing fire.

Referring to the Fire Alert and Messaging System (FAMS) adopted by Madhya Pradesh, he said it is a very useful computer programme which combines GIS and MIS technologies. He also referred to Joint Forest Management Committees and suggested to use their services in fire control system.

Two Books namely: Impact of Forest Fires and Exhautics of Nilgiris and Pines Of South - East Asia were released on this occasion.

This National Workshop on Forest Fires has been organized by the Ministry of Environment and Forests.

Principal Chief Conservators of Wild life and Chief Wildlife Wardens from states, organisations like Indian Council of Forestry, Research and Education ( ICFRE ), Dehradun, Forest Research Institute (FRI), Dehradun, Forest Survey of India (FSI),Dehradun, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment ( ATREE), World Wildlife Fund (WWF), National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA) and officers from the ministry are participating in this workshop.