Fire in Wet Grassland Habitats of Assam

Abstract

Fire has long been a controversial tool of forestry and wildlife management. The Western concept of fire being detrimental to many ecological values seems to have filtered into our country also, though fire had long been used as a tool of forestry management in India. Especially in the management of sal and grassland areas. Though fire had been viewed as a detrimental factor as per Project Tiger concepts and has been very rigidly controlled and kept at bay in almost Tiger Reserves, yet in Manas, fire, in the shape of controlled, early and induced burning of the grassland, has been used as a major management practice and with visible beneficial impact on the ecosystem.