Forest and Grassland Fires
Syunik Marz May 2011 Why are we going to talk about forest and grassland fires?
y Timeliness y Forest and grassland fire incidences are frequent in the Syunik region y Risks are increasing due to changing climate conditions – and the risks should be recognized y Syunik’s forests are globally important and unique y The ir pro tec tion i s a hig h pr ior ity y Everyone should understand, appreciate, enjoy and protect this unique resource y Learning about forest and grassland fire issues is very important y Learning about ways to prevent fires y Learning about the vulnerabilities of the forest ecosystem and about the effects that fi res h ave on our envi ronmen t y Recognizing the effects that fires Grassland fire in Shikahogh March 2010 have on our local communities Le ts s tart with a QUIZ! 1. Which national parks and state reserves are located in Syunik? 2. Which endangered species live in Syunik? Name a few. 3. What is climate change? What causes climate change? 4. There are some 90 000 hectares of forests in Syunik. How many hectares of forests were burned in 2006 in Syunik? a. 50 ha b. 200 ha c. over 300 ha 5. What are main causes for forest fires? CttfthlContent of the lesson
1. Introduction 1. Forests in the Syunik region 2. Forest vulnerabilities 3. Forest fire incidences iAin Armen ia an d Syunik 2. Forest fires – causes and effects 3. Forest fire prevention 4. Embracing forests
Grassland fire in Shikahogh April 2011 1. Introduction Forests in the Syunik region Ai’ftArmenia’s forests y Forests are a national inheritance – they should be kept to serve future generations as well y Each generation has equal rights and responsibilities towards forests y Forests provide raw materials, maintain biodiversity, protect land and water resources as well as participate in nutrient and carbon cycling y The high biodiversity in Armenian forests ppgyprovides e.g. a variety of edible plants y Traditional ways to utilize forests Ai’ftArmenia’s forests y The forest area in Armenia is about 250 000 – 280 000 ha y The forest cover in Present Armenia is shrinking y Poverty y Deforestation – Illegal Logging y Non-sustainable forest YEREVAN management prevails y Ways of using forest resources y Ways of maintaining the forests y Overgrazing y Pests, diseases, droughts, fire y Forest fragmentation y Climate Change Impacts y Pressure on forest ecosystems is increasing Forests in Syunik Marz y Syunik’ s forest ecosystems have a variety of endangered and endemic species (especially protected areas) FtiForests in SikSyunik Marz y Many reserves and national parks are located in Syunik: y Shikahogh State Reserve y Arevik National Park y Platan Grove Sanctuary y Zangezur Sanctuary y Boghakar Reserve y Sev Litch Reserve y Goris Reserve y Forestlands cover a total area of nearly 90 000 hectares in SikSyunik Marz y The Syunik forests amount to over 20 % of forests in the whole of Armenia y About 62 % of forests are located in northern Armenia Forests in Syunik Marz –Shikahogh State Reserve y Shikahogh state reserve was established in 1958 y The area of the reserve is about 10 000 hectares y The reserve spreads over the southern slopes of Mountain Khustup and the northern slopes of the Meghri range, at the altitude of 700-2400 m y The climate in the reserve is moist and warm y The reserve is surrounded by high mountains on three sides which prevent the northern cold and southern warm winds from entering reserve y From the fourth side warm and moist air from the Caspian Sea enters the reserve y There are a bout 1100 spec ies o f vascu lar p lants in t he reserve area y About 70 species growing in the reserve are registered in the Red Data Book of Armenia y The reserve is also known for its numerous endemic species y These species can be recognized for the word “Zangezur” in there name y Zangezur pear , Zangezur blue-bell, Zangezur pennycress etc. y Other species that live in the reserve are for example reptiles, the bearded eagle, various species of vultures, wolves, foxes, wild cats, roes, hares, badgers, hedgehogs, wild goats and moufflon FtiForests in SikSyunik Marz y Forests in Syunik are located between 500 m a.s.l. and 2400-2500 m a.s.l. y Majority of forests are located between altitudes Oak Hornbeam 1200-2000 m a.s.l. y Most suitable climate and soil conditions y Oak, hornbeam and juniper are most dominant tree species Juniper y Other speci es i nc lu de e.g. Elm elm, ash-tree and maple y About 90 % of juniper stands are in the Meghri region
Ash-tree Maple Forest lands by altitudes above sea level 1. Introduction Forests vulnerabilities Forest vulnerabilities - Climate change y Climate change is taking place y Increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are causing the average temperatures of air and oceans on Earth to rise y Rising temperatures will lead to changes in the amount and patt ern of preci pit ati on, retreating glaciers, permafrost and sea ice and a rise in sea levels y The increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases result from human activities, such as y Burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) y Deforestation y Global surface temperatures have risen byypp approximatel y 0.7°C during the 20th century y It is predicted that by 2100 y Temperature will rise by 2-3°C y Precipitation will decrease by 10 % y Climate change has different effects in different areas y Some areas are more vulnerable than others Forest vulnerabilities - Climate change y Additionally, climate change impacts are seen in y More frequent occurrence of extreme weather and climate events (heatwaves, droughts, heavy rainfalls) y MfMore frequent tdit disasters y Climate aridization and y A decrease in land productivity y E.g. agricultural yields y What will happen in Syunik? y Precipitation has decreased by 9 % y Air temperature has increased by 0.7 % during the last three decades y These trends are predicted to continue Forest vulnerabilities - Climate change y Climate changgpe is a serious threat to the preservation of biodiversity, because it results in radical changes in the habitats of numerous plant and animal species y Syunik region has been identified as a critically vulnerable region of the country in terms of the risks posed by climate changgye to its mountain forest ecosystems y Vulnerability of reproduction potential: the bottom forest belt of central and southern Armenia y Vulnerability to aridity: Ararat hollow, Vayotz Dzor, Syunik and Tavush y Vul nera bility to pestdfits and fires: in SthSouth-fifacing mount tilain slopes
Æ The possibility of fires is high in Meghri and Kapan forests 1. Introduction Forests fire incidences FtfiiidForests fire incidences y Forest fires burn millions of hectares of forests worldwide each year y The resulting loss and degradation of forested land is roughly equal to that caused by destructive logging and conversion of forest land to agricultural use combined y Forest fires affect biodiversity, human health and economies y Globally, most forest fires nowadays are probably directly or indirectly influenced by humans Forests fire incidences – Russia 2010 y Due to record temperatures (the hottest recorded summer in Russian history) and drought, several hundred wildfires broke out across Russia in the summer of 2010 y The smoke and the heat wave caused severe health impacts and deaths in Russia y Thousands of homes were lost during the fires y More of similar events can be seen under changing climate conditions when temperatures rise and extreme weather events, like prolonged drought, become more frequent Forests fire incidences –Armenia and Syunik
Number of forest fire incidences 80
70
60
50 ences dd
40 Other Marzes Syunik Marz
umber of inci 30 NN
20
10
0 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Total FtfiiidForests fire incidences
Percentage of forest fire incidences 100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50% Other Marzes Syunik Marz 40%
30%
20%
10%
0% 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Total FtfiiidForests fire incidences
Total burned area 800
700
600
500 hectares
400 Other Marzes Syunik Marz 300 al burned area, tt To 200
100
0 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Total FtfiiidForests fire incidences
Percentage of burned area 100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50% Other Marzes Syunik Marz 40%
30%
20%
10%
0% 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Total Forests fire incidences –Case studies y Forest fire in Kapan: y A juniper forest located in the Davit Bek forest area was burned in 2006 y Altogether 90 hectares was burned by the fire y The fire spread from a poorly managed camp fire y It took 10 d ays t o exti ngui sh th e fi re y The fire was extinguished by firefighters from the forestry service and Armenian army y Forest fire in Arevik National Park: y 50 hectares of oak forest was burned in 2001 in Arevik National Park y The fire spread from a poorly managed fire at a nearby “datcha” y It took 17 days to extinguish the fire y In total 250 people participated in extinguishing the fire y The people who participated in extinguishing the fire are now involved and invested in the reforestation project on the pilot site y Fire suspension was done with tree braches, some tools and plastic bottles filled with water FtfiiidForests fire incidences - Kapan
BdjiBurned juniper forest area in Kapan FtfiiidForests fire incidences - AikArevik
BdftBurned forest area in Arevik National Park 2. Forest fires –causes andfftd effects Causes of forest and grassland fires y The main reasons for forest and grassland fires are 1. Agricultural waste burning 2. Burning of pasturelands 3. Negligence along roads
Æ Human induced Grassland fire in Æ Prevailing traditions Shikahogh 2010 Æ Negligence, ignorance
Æ Climate change will make the environment more prone to fires spreading uncontrollably Causes of forest and grassland fires y Prevailing traditions y Agricultural waste and pastureland burning are ancient traditions in agriculture , animal husbandry and forestry y These traditions are not continued to gain economic benefits or to purposefully cause fires Æ they are continued simply because they are traditions y False beliefs prevail of the benefits of these actions Effects of burning stubble and pasturelands y Burninggp of stubble and pasturelands is carried out because it 1. Increases the amount of soil phosphorus (fertilizes the soil) 2. Destructs plant diseases and pests
y However, burning of stubble and pasturelands is detrimental to the soil quality and also for the environment and the atmosphere due to released green house gases and other compounds
y Stubble and pastureland burning releases methane CH4, carbon monoxide CO, nitrous oxide N2O, and nitrogen oxides Nox, which are greenhouse gases causing global warming y Airquality; total suspended particulate matter y Respiratory and cardio-vascular illnesses
Not to mention that these actions are one of the main causes for forest and grassland fires almost everywhere in the world! Effects of burning stubble and pasturelands y Stubble and pasturelands burning cause decreased soil fertility due to y Losses of nutrients (such as nitrogen) y Decrease in the pH of the soil y Loss of soil organic matter y Size and quantity of soil microbial pools Effects of burning stubble and pasturelands y Soil organic matter y Is a reservoir for plant nutrients y Enhances the water holding capacity of soil y Protects soil structure against compaction and erosion
ÆSOIL PRODUCTIVITY IS DETERMINED BY SOIL ORGANIC MATTER
ÆREPEATED BURNING CAN CAUSE LONGTERM REDUCTIONS IN YIELDS! Causes of forest and grassland fires yWEOther CAN causes TAKE ACTION of forest IN and SEVERAL grassland fires WAYSinclude TO PREVENT FOREST AND GRASSLANDy Negligence FIRES! on roads (sparks from vehicles) y Camp fires y Barbeques y Cigarette stubs y Waste burning y Arson Effects of fires on forest ecosystems y In many ecosystems, fire is natural and important feature, which modifies the species structure in the ecosystem y E.g. boreal and dry tropical forests y The frequency and pattern of fires is altered by humans y IdIncreased occurrence y Fires occur in wrong places y Fires can alter the structure and composition of forests, opening up areas to invasion by fast-colonizing alien species and threatening biological diversity. Forests also become more prone to pest invasions y For animals fires mean altered habitats, sometimes death y Fires can lead to communities losinggp important resources , environmental degradation through impacts on water cycles, soil fertility and biodiversity y Buildings, crops and plantations can be destroyed by fire and lives can be lost y Fire may mean the loss of crops or livelihoods 3. Forest fire prevention Forest fi re fi ghti ng in SikSyunik y The rough terrain makes fire fighting extremely difficult in Grassland fire in Syunik Shikahogh 2010 y Grass growth in the summer months (reaching up to 80 cm) increases the risk of fire y The forestry service has the main role in forest fire Grassland fire in prottiiAtection in Armen ia an did in Shikahogh 2011 the Syunik region y Local communities have an obliggppation to participate in forest fire suppression but there is lack of equipment and knowledge’s Forest fi re fi ghti ng in SikSyunik y There are some severe lacks in the establishment of the forest fire fighting system y Improvements need to be made for example in the following sectors: y Forest health monitoring – dense forests are prone to fires y Early detection – building watchtowers and ranger stations y Early response – equipment for local teams to fight fires y Fire fi ghti ng equ ipmen t an d tra ine d fire fig hters y Early warning system – predicting droughts etc. y Maps, roads, water supply – getting to fires Forest fi re fi ghti ng in SikSyunik y Acquisition of for example the following equipment is required: Forest fire fighting – volunteer fire fighters y Many fire prone countries e.g. in the Mediterranean region have a strong tradition for volunteer fire fighting y Forest fires affect local communities and there is a strong will among these populations to contribute towards forest and grassland fire fighting y The tradition of volunteerism existed also in the Soviet Union y VlVolun teers are t rai ned an d equ ippe dbtd, but no mone tary payment is received for the work y The main benefit is the protection of the valuable resources for the community members y The Armenian Rescue Service is interested in reviving the volunteer system for forest fire fighting y Volunteers would be an important reserve enabling rapid response to forest and grassland fires Wlltkti!We all can take actions! y What we can do to prevent forest and grassland fires? y For example “Codes” for behavior in forests y Camping, barbeques, management of open fires, smoking
Preventing a Forest Fire Accident The Outdoors are generally highly flammable. Dry grass, sticks, leaves, and trees all provide perfect fuel that can easily be ignited into a ravenous blaze.
These are some tips in preventing a Forest Fire: 1. Keep camp fires away from possible fuels. Make sure not to camp under a tree. High flames might set it alight. Keep your camp fires small and controlled. We all know the added excitement of bigger fires but be responsible! 2. Check, check, and re-check that all fires you created are out when you leave. Use water to take care of smoldering remains or cover them with sufficient sand to keep them from reiitiigniting. 3. If you need to smoke then extinguish your cigarette butts and take them with you. We are not only thinking about preventing fire, we are also preserving nature. Throwing away a cigarette butt is an absolute no-no. http://www.abc -of-hiking.com/natural -hazards/forest-fires. asp Wlltkti!We all can take actions! y Assessment of traditional practices y Changing attitudes y Learn how to extinguish small fires y Bringing back the pioneer and scout traditions!
Forest Fire Survival Tips
These are some guidelines on what to do if things do go wrong or if you are confronted with a Forest Fire: 1. If your fire got out of control, use a piece of clothing or a towel to extinguish the flames. In most cases, using water will be less effective unless you have big buckets of water close by.
2. Should the fire be beyond your control then stop trying to fight it and move out. You can account for your actions later but at that moment, preserving your life is more important. Just make sure to contact the proper authorities the moment your life is no longer in danger.
3. Fires generally travel faster in the direction of the wind. In addition, fires travel faster uphill than downhill so take these things into account.
4. Try to find a natural fire break such as a river or a large empty clearing.
5. Should you be forced to try to break through the fire, cover your face and mouth with a wet cloth (or dry if no water is available) and run as fast as possible through the flames. Should your clothes catch fire, extinguish them by rolling and padding.
6. Once you are in safety, notify the proper authorities even if you think someone else might have called in already.
http://www.abc-of-hiking.com/natural-hazards/forest-fires.asp Wha t to do if you d et ect a fi re?
Know where to call or who to inform if you detect a fire! 4. Embracing forests Wha t e lse can we do ? y Practice calling the authorities about fire y What information do you need y Where to call y Learn about fire extinguishing – talk to fire fighters y Make your own forest code – and act accordingly! y What to do and what not to do in a forest (e.g. fire, littering, collecting plants, mushrooms, berries, protecting animals) y Prepare leaflets about fire prevention and post them in your village y GtthfGo to the forest – see for yourself th e uni que bi odi versit y and embrace Syunik’s forests
Æ PROTECT THE UNIQUE FORESTS FROM FIRE! PROTECTION STARTS WITH ALL OF US! THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!