Safeguarding the forest cover
The dry winter months in Kashmir region are bringing in various troubles and the environment itself bears the brunt of this change in weather pattern. One of the causalities that is reported due to dry winter months is the forest fires which have been increasing during the past decade or so.
Forest fires and its management have been in focus for many years now as the incidents of forest fires have shown an upward trend in Jammu and Kashmir.
Though no specific reason can be cited to be the main cause of forest fires, but the hard fact is that forest fires have increased in numbers and have caused severe damage to the forest cover at many places. The past several years have witnessed an increased reportage of forest fires and the damage that has taken place due to these incidents.
Though Kashmir Division is prone to forest fires during March and April, and less precipitation during the recent winters increases the risk of these incidents.
In Jammu range forest fires are mainly reported during the dry and hot season of April to June-that means the most risky period is almost over for now. In addition to natural reasons, the forest fires are also being caused by some unscrupulous elements.
Forests are of utmost importance for our sustenance. Our weather activity, agriculture and many other aspects of our life are directly controlled and dependent on forest cover.
While the government is taking preventive measures to mitigate these fires due to natural causes, it should also initiate action against the culprits who deliberately set-up or initiate forest fires.
Though some action has been initiated over the past few months as FIRs have been lodged in this regard, and the investigation has been initiated by the Police Department.
Notably, forest fires affected a small percentage of the total forest area, with damage limited to ground fires and no major crown damage reported, the Forest Ecology & Environment Department team should actively engage in controlling and preventing these fires.
Besides, the department needs to formulate a detailed SOP, which defines the criteria for categorization of low risk farm fires to high risk crown fires. The SOP should also feature the preventive measures like creating fire breaks and control burns, preparedness through establishing fire response units, response protocols, use of technology, community engagements and awareness programmes.
The SOP should also notify the composition of fire response teams, fire fighting equipment’s of each unit as also the format for reporting mechanism for forest fires.
This needs to be taken up at an earliest as the lean period of forest fires is being witnessed presently which should give the authorities ample time to prepare a meaningful plan for implementation.
Notably, the Forest Survey of India recorded 438.86 sq km (about 44 000 hectares) burned during the 2023‑24 fire season, making Kashmir one of the hardest‑hit Himalayan areas. In the 2024‑25 season, 1,243 fire incidents were reported, affecting 3,503.7 ha of forest.
Kashmir’s forests have taken a noticeable hit in recent years. In 2023 alone the region lost about 112 hectares of natural forest, which translates to roughly 68.8 kilotonnes of CO₂ released into the atmosphere.
Over the longer term, fires have been responsible for 23 % of all tree‑cover loss between 2001 and 2023, with the most severe year being 2004 when 240 hectares got damaged. These figures need to serve as an alarm for us and our prime focus should be to contribute at all levels so that the forest cover is safeguarded.
