19th March 2024 (13 Topics)
1
Mar
2
Mar
4
Mar
5
Mar
6
Mar
7
Mar
8
Mar
9
Mar
11
Mar
12
Mar
13
Mar
14
Mar
15
Mar
16
Mar
18
Mar
19
Mar
20
Mar
21
Mar
22
Mar
23
Mar
25
Mar
26
Mar
27
Mar
28
Mar
29
Mar
30
Mar
Forest Fires & impact on Biodiversity
Context
For nearly a week now, forest fires have been raging in the Coonoor forest range in the Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu.
1: Dimension-Causes of Forest Fire
- According to the Forest Survey of India, nearly 36 per cent of India’s forests are prone to frequent fires.
- Several factors like temperatures, precipitation, vegetation, and moisture contribute to the scale and frequency of these fires.
- Higher fire incidents are reported in March, April and May due to ample availability of dry biomass (fuel load) following the end of winter and the on-going summer season.
- Most forest fires are man-made due to changes in agriculture and unchecked land-use patterns.
2: Dimension-Impact of Forest Fire
- Loss and displacement of species:The impact of recurrent forest fires leads to the direct loss of trees and wildlife.
- Pushing towards extinction:Forest fires can meddle with the life cycle of species and push many of the threatened and endemic species closer to extinction.
- Affecting growth:By destroying the leaves and foliage, a forest fire can significantly reduce the photosynthetic activity of surviving trees and thereby affect their growth.
- Affected seedlings:It can also damage the seed bank, both above and below the ground, and wipe out the seedlings and saplings growing on the forest floor.
- Impact on recovery rate:The loss of keystone organisms in forest ecosystems, such as invertebrates, pollinators, and decomposers, can significantly slow the recovery rate of the forest.
- Serious impact of reproduction:Forest fires can also interfere with the reproduction and propagation of certain plants and animals. Such recurrent events can be deadly to the species that are native or endemic to the region.
|
Fact Box: India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2021
|
|
Mains Practice Question The frequency of forest fire incidents in India has increased by more than 50 percent in the last two decades. Discussing the reason for forest fires, highlight the mechanism for controlling forest fires. |
More Articles
Courses
Study
Notes
Home
Resources
More
