Forest Fire Regime in Himalaya Likely to Change for Worse

Abstract

Traditionally, forest fires in the Himalaya were of small scale and patchy (mainly driven by human action), occurring between March and May in dry and hot conditions. The resin rich Chir pine (Pinus roxburghii) forests characterised by inflammable litter provided abundant fuel for burning, but traditional practices of forest use such as firewood collection, litter removal, and grazing reduced the risk of large fires. Recently, the abandonment of agriculture and reduced forest dependence have changed fire regimes, increasing the potential for significant, destructive fires with rapidly warming temperatures. In this context, Bhutan’s strategy to restrain traditional forest use practices by communities post-1970 demonstrates how reduced community involvement increased large fire outbreaks. The densification of pine forests due to a ban on tree cutting may also modify the fire behavior. In the past, fire suppression policies in the US led to catastrophic fires. Hence, research-based and community-inclusive approaches and strategies are required to avoid the risk of large forest fires due to the changed situation in Uttarakhand.