International Journal of Interdisciplinary Research in Science Society and Culture(IJIRSSC) Vol: 2, Issue:1, (June Issue), 2016 ISSN: (P) 2395-4345, (O) 2455-2909 © IJIRSSC Forest Fire Disaster: Pattern, Causes, Issues and Challenges – A Case Study in Raigad District, Maharastra,India Dr. Prakash Dongre Associate Professor, Department of Geography, Nagindas Khandwala College, Mumbai, India. Mail- [email protected] ____________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT : Forest fires are natural as well as manmade disasters. They consist of wild fires which destroys trees as well as the wild life. They influence the livelihood of people living in forests, those are mainly tribals. Large number of forest fires occurs annually in India, as maximum forest belongs to tropical deciduous types. There is a need to study forest fires scientifically, as very few attempts are made by scholars and organisations such as Forest Survey of India. Present study is of spatio-temporal analysis of forest fires, their causes and impacts on forest environment of Raigad district. The study does not focus on a single theme or problem. Forest fire data obtained from Forest Survey of India form the year 2005 to 2012. Fire locations are plotted on maps. A spatio temporal analysis carried out at taluka level with reference to altitude, transport links, settlements and other anthropogenic factors. Suitable statistical, cartographic and GIS techniques used to understand patterns of fires. Field visits and interviews with Forest Department officials and local people were carried out to get their perspectives on forest fires. Keywords: Forest fire, Impact of forest fire,Livelihood of people ,Raigad , Wild fire. _________________________________________________________________________________________ I. Introduction: Forest fire is defined as “any uncontrolled fire in combustible vegetation that occurs in the countryside or in a wilderness area”. It is also called as wild fire, brush fire, bushfire, grass fire, hill fire, squirrel fire, etc (Cambridge Dictionary, 2008). Forest fires are classified in to three types as ground fires, crawling or surface fires and crown canopy or aerial fires [2]. Origin cause of forest fires can be natural or manmade. A forest fire destroys trees as well as the wild life. They influence the livelihood of people living in the forests, those are mainly tribals. Large number of forest fires occurs annually in India, as maximum forest belongs to tropical deciduous types. There is need to study forest fires scientifically, as very few attempts are made by scholars and organisations such as FSI. In this paper the researchers focused on patterns, frequency, causes and areas prone to forest fires in Raigad district. Other issues such as prevention, detection, and involvement of local people in forest fire management are also taken in to consideration. www.ijirssc.in Page 112 International Journal of Interdisciplinary Research in Science Society and Culture(IJIRSSC) Vol: 2, Issue:1, (June Issue), 2016 ISSN: (P) 2395-4345, (O) 2455-2909 © IJIRSSC II. Objectives of the Study: The main objectives in this paper is - 1. To study forest fire at a micro level by different methods. 2. To understand a spatio temporal pattern of forest firte at taluka level with reference to altitude, transport links, settlements and other factors 3. To understand causes and impacts of forest fires on environment III. Study Area : Raigad district is located between 17.510 to 19.100 North latitude and 72.470 to 73.400 East longitudes (Map-01). This coastal district has geographical area of 7152 kms2. It has 15 tehsils/ talukas and 26 census towns, 11 statutory towns and 1999 villages. This district has a total population of 26, 35,394, out of which 39% people live in urban areas. This district has an average literacy rate of 83.89%, with male literacy 90.68% and female literacy rate of 76.79% [3]. The district has a good network of roads and Konkan railway passes through it. JNPT international port and many other small ports are located in district. Roha, Patalganga, Mahad, Rasayani, Taloja and Nagothane are the main industrial centres having MIDC industrial estates. Raigad is emerging as a hub of attraction for MNCs, developers, and is well positioned to be the next big growth centre being in proximity to Mumbai. Topography and climatic conditions are conducive for the growth of dry deciduous and semi-evergreen forests covers on windward slopes of Sahyadri and adjoining hills. District has 41% of its geographical area under forest. It has 13 km2 areas under very dense forest, 1248 kms2 area under dense forest, 1630 kms2 under open forest and 70 kms2 under scrub [4]. Northern part of district is located near the city Mumbai and facing problem of human pressure on its natural resources. Raigad is one of the highly vulnerable districts to forest fires as most of its forests fall in dry deciduous category. Crawling or surface fires are the most common fire type in Raigad district [5]. Most common anthropogenic causes of forest fires in the district are: Promotion of early flushing of grass for grazing livestock, at the onset of monsoon Burning under storey to clear the forest floor and enable collection of minor forest products Forest/human habitation interface e.g. during burning of agricultural wastes in adjoining cultivated areas fire spreads occasionally to surrounding forests Facilitation of hunting of wild herbivores Conflicts over the land right claims and an attempt to encroach on forest lands Negligence while commuting through forests Sparks from electricity transmission lines during strong gusty winds Poverty and lack of adequate employment among the forest dwellers Some kind of animosity towards forest department Unchecked rab fire spreads to nearby forest areas due to winds www.ijirssc.in Page 113 International Journal of Interdisciplinary Research in Science Society and Culture(IJIRSSC) Vol: 2, Issue:1, (June Issue), 2016 ISSN: (P) 2395-4345, (O) 2455-2909 © IJIRSSC Map-01: Study Area IV.Methodology: This paper is mainly based secondary data obtained from Forest Survey of India website and Forest Department. Fire locations, contours and taluka boundaries are plotted on map of Raigad. Suitable statistical, cartographic and GIS techniques used to understand patterns of fires. With the help of field visits and interviews with Forest officials an interpretation is made of the forest fires. www.ijirssc.in Page 114 International Journal of Interdisciplinary Research in Science Society and Culture(IJIRSSC) Vol: 2, Issue:1, (June Issue), 2016 ISSN: (P) 2395-4345, (O) 2455-2909 © IJIRSSC V. Result and Discussion : 1.Analysis of Forest Fires of Raigad Fig- 1: Forest Fires and Annual Rainfall - Raigad Source: FSI and IMD Figure – 1 shows recorded forest fires with the help of instrument MODIS of NASA. Two satellites Terra and Aqua are equipped with MODIS. Each MODIS has 36 spectral bands to view the earth. Viewing swath width is of 2330 Kms and the satellites scan Indian Territory at interval of 4 to 8 hrs (four times a day). Image resolution used in detecting fire is one square kilometer. Fires in Raigad vary from 23 in 2005 to 114 in 2013. It is observed that distribution and quantum of monsoon in the previous year has direct impact on fires in the district. There is a gradual increase in fire incidences in the district till 2010 and in this period there was decline in rainfall. After which there was a sharp decline in fire incidences in 2011. This may be due to extension of monsoon rains in the district up to the month of November in 2010. In 2013 there is sharp increase in fire incidence and this is due to lower monsoon rainfall in 2012. b) Month wise variation: ‘Fire season’ in Raigad starts during late winter. Grass and ground remains moist up to January and hence number of fire incidences till this month are very few in numbers. Fig. – 2: Raigad - Month Wise Forest Fires (2005-2013) Source: FSI, 2013 www.ijirssc.in Page 115 International Journal of Interdisciplinary Research in Science Society and Culture(IJIRSSC) Vol: 2, Issue:1, (June Issue), 2016 ISSN: (P) 2395-4345, (O) 2455-2909 © IJIRSSC Fire incidences increases from the month of February, with rise in daytime temperature and fall in humidity. The maximum numbers of fires in the district are recorded in the month of March. In this month average evapotranspiration in district remains to about 180 mm and there is no precipitation. During this month huge amount of dry biomass is available as maximum forest trees shed their leaves. High temperature, low humidity and high wind velocity helps in spread of fires. The number of fire incidences falls gradually after April due to non availability of sufficient dry biomass. Fire season gets over in month of June as district receives monsoon showers around second week. c) Day wise variation: Maximum fires are starts during the day. When day wise forest data analysed it was observed that maximum incidence of forest fires are recorded on holidays including Sundays and a day before and after public holidays. Fig. – 3: Raigad - Day Wise Forest Fires (2005-2013) Source: FSI, 2013 Poaching is the most important reason behind setting up fires in forests by Katkari tribes. They set fire at the base of gently sloping hills, and put traps uphill to catch wild pig, rat, rabbit and other small herbivorous animals, as these animals try to escape from the fire below and run uphill. Fires thus set by people spread in forests as they never try to put it off after poaching. These types of fire incidences are maximum on holidays due to fewer forest guards and relaxed vigilance. d) Spatial distribution of forest fires: When forest fire incidences of last eight years are located on map with their locational attributes. The derived map shows the zones prone to forest fires in the district.