Context: Wildfires swept throughout Los Angeles in Jan '25, destroying homes and causing casualties and displacements, the urgency of addressing and preventing forest fires took centre stage once again.

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Why are Forest Fires a Growing Concern?

Here are some of the reasons as to why forest fires are a growing problem:

• High Vulnerability: Over 36% of India’s forest cover is prone to fires, with incidents increasing tenfold in the last two decades.
• Human-Induced Causes: 90% of forest fires are caused by human activities such as land clearing, slash-and-burn agriculture, and negligence.
• Climate Change Impact: Rising temperatures, extended dry spells, and erratic rainfall make forests more susceptible to wildfires.
• Biodiversity Loss: Fires destroy ecosystems, displace wildlife, and threaten plant and animal species, some of which are endangered.

Read the article on the India State of Forest Report 2023!

Major Consequences of Forest Fires

Some of the major consequences of forest fires are:

• Loss of Biodiversity – Wildfires destroy trees, rare plant species, and wildlife habitats, reducing ecological balance.
• High Carbon Emissions – Indian forest fires release around 69 million tonnes of CO₂ annually, worsening air pollution.
• Economic Losses – Forest fires lead to ₹1.74 lakh crore annual losses due to timber depletion and the destruction of non-timber forest products.
• Soil & Water Cycle Disruptions – Fires degrade soil fertility, leading to desertification, while also reducing groundwater retention capacity.
• Human-Wildlife Conflict – Displaced animals from burnt forests invade human settlements, increasing conflicts and attacks.

Read the article on the Forest Survey of India!

Challenges in India's Forest Fire Management

Some of the major challenges in India’s forest fire management are:

• Inconsistent Budget Allocation: The Forest Fire Prevention and Management Scheme (FFPMS) receives fluctuating and inadequate funding, making long-term planning difficult.
• Technology Gaps: The Forest Fire Alert System lacks precision in differentiating forest fires from other sources of fire, leading to delayed response times.
• Limited Community Participation: Lack of local community involvement in fire prevention, detection, and reporting.
• Weak Infrastructure: Lack of trained personnel, outdated equipment, and poor connectivity in remote forest areas hinder response efforts.
• Policy & Implementation Gaps: While India has policies like the National Action Plan on Forest Fires, its on-ground execution remains weak due to bureaucratic delays and lack of coordination.

Read the article on the Montane Forest in India!

Measures to Strengthen India’s Forest Fire Management System

The following measures can be implemented to strengthen India’s forest fire management system:

Stable & Increased Funding

• A dedicated budget allocation for long-term fire prevention, response, and capacity-building.

Advanced Technology Adoption

• AI-driven predictive modeling for early fire detection.
• Drone-based monitoring for real-time data collection.
• Integration of FSI (Forest Survey of India), ISRO (satellite imagery), and IMD (weather data) for better risk assessment.

Community Engagement

• Learning from Nepal’s Community Forest User Groups to involve locals in fire prevention.
• Adopting Indonesia’s Fire-Free Village Program, which provides incentives for fire-free practices.

Early Warning & Rapid Response

• Expanding mobile-based fire alert systems for local communities.
• Establishing toll-free helplines and SMS alerts for faster reporting and action.

Integrated Fire Management Approach

• Strengthening collaboration between policymakers, scientists, forest officials, civil society, and local communities.
• Implementing fire-resistant afforestation practices in highly vulnerable regions.
• Establishing dedicated fire brigades for forest areas, equipped with modern fire-fighting tools and rapid response units.

Read the article on the Southern California Wildfires!

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UPSC Practice Question

Forest fires in India have increased tenfold in the past two decades, posing severe environmental, economic, and social challenges. Examine the key drivers behind this trend and suggest a multi-pronged approach to mitigate its impact. (Ink in 150 words)