Status of Forest Fire Management in Haryana

Abstract

This paper describes the status of forest fires and various approaches being used for their control in Haryana. The state is although not blessed with bounty of forest wealth, yet it is rich in diversity not usually imagined to be existing in a small geographical area of 44,212 km². Forest fire season in Haryana is from March to June, which affects plant, animal and human life. Ever since the Sukhomajri approach of Participatory Forest Management has evolved in the state, the people's cooperation in forest protection has resulted in reduction in fire incidences. For prevention of fires, control burning of leaf litter in early February is very effective in reducing fire incidences and intensity. Satellite based fire monitoring system is not in use in Haryana as the frontline staff is unable to locate the geo-coordinates on the ground. Moreover, due to good information network, the fire information is received well in time from the field functionaries. Forest department emphasizes on awareness generation and a forest fire protection week is observed in the first week of April besides holding regular meetings with people. Fire watch towers built on hill top, prove handy in collecting information. The state has formulated firefighting crisis management plan incorporating various methods for fire control. For the purpose of this paper, satellite based forest fire geo-coordinates provided by Forest Survey of India, Dehradun were overlaid on digitized forest boundaries to prepare map on spatial distribution of cumulative fire locations in Haryana during 2011-2016. Critical forest fire risk map for fire prone forest areas was prepared by plotting areas which burnt thrice or twice during last six years. This map along with awareness generation, maintaining constant liaison with people especially those living near forests and use of modern technology etc. will help in preventing and controlling forest fires in Haryana.