Local communities, government agencies, non-profits and researchers must work together to mitigate forest fires and build resilient socioeconomic systems
Representative photo: iStock. Forest fires have become a recurring environmental issue, with devastating consequences for the environment and human communities across the world.
The frequency and intensity of forest fires are increasing rapidly, stated a 2022 report by the United Nations Environment Programme.
In India, Madhya Pradesh (MP), a state with a forest cover of 77,493 sq km — 25.14 per cent of the state’s geographical area — is highly susceptible to wildfire during the summer season.
The dominance of deciduous forests that are vulnerable to wildfires, along with human activities, their associated impacts and climate change worsens the situation. Recurrent fire incidents here result in significant loss of forest cover as well as socioeconomic assets.
Also read: India’s forest fires are getting bigger and hotter, like the rest of the world
India State of Forest Report, 2021 also confirmed that the number of forest fire incidents is growing in the state with space and time.
Forested areas of MP house diverse tribal communities that have coexisted with nature for centuries. However, the increasing fire incidents are disturbing their socioeconomic spheres, including livelihoods, cultural heritage and overall well-being.
The major tribal communities of the state, including Gond, Baiga and Korku, have been living close to the forest and are highly dependent on the forest ecosystem for their subsistence.
These communities mostly rely on non-timber forest products (NTFP) like mahua flowers and seeds, amla, tendu leaves, saaj, karva chirag, beej, safed musli, Ashoka bark, semal cotton and honey.
Along with this, fuelwood collection and grazing are also the prime engines of their survival. But the recurrence of forest fires disrupts these traditional practices, depletes natural resources and reduces biodiversity as well as the availability of minor forest products.
Consequently, tribal communities face challenges securing a livelihood, food, medicine and raw materials for their economic activities. The loss of employment opportunities intensifies their vulnerability and increases reliance on external sources for sustenance.
In addition to their dependence on forests, many tribal communities in Madhya Pradesh, particularly Gond and Korku, practice agriculture and animal husbandry with the support of the local government, private charitable trusts and non-profits.
During summer, forest fires spread to agricultural fields and grazing lands, destroying crops and pastures. The loss of crops not only affects the food security of these communities but also disrupts the local agricultural economy, contributing to increased poverty and food insecurity.
A graph showing forest fire incidents in MP over the past two decades. Source: Author’s analysis of FIRMS fire data.
Tribal communities are deeply connected with their land, intricately tied to their cultural heritage and traditional knowledge systems. Forest fires not only affect the physical landscapes but also erode centuries-old knowledge passed down through generations.
The loss of medicinal plants, sacred sites and traditional farming practices disrupts the cultural fabric of these communities, impacting their sense of identity, spirituality and social cohesion.
Moreover, the displacement and disruption caused by forest fires also lead to the loss of traditional social structures and community bonds, further undermining their cultural resilience.
Read more: Similipal fire shines light on dark hole in India’s real-time air quality monitoring network
Along with these social, cultural and economic impacts, forest fires also release harmful pollutants and toxins into the environment, resulting in poor air quality. Inhaling smoke and pollutant exposure can cause respiratory diseases, allergies and other health issues.
Additionally, the stress caused by forest fires contributes to mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression and trauma. The overall decline in health and well-being further limits the capacity of tribal communities to cope with the socioeconomic impacts of forest fires.
Furthermore, forest fires often result in the displacement and migrations of tribal communities, forcing them to flee their homes and seek temporary shelter in neighbouring villages and cities. This displacement disrupts their social and economic networks, separating families and undermining community support systems.
The loss of shelter and personal belongings exacerbates their vulnerability, leaving them dependent on relief measures and further compromising their socioeconomic stability.
The suggestions listed below are based on the observation from field surveys and interaction with tribal people of MP who are affected by forest fires.
Insights from earlier studies and suggestions from the local communities are also included. These suggestions are intended to address the prevention and mitigation of forest fires as well as the subsequent losses.
Interaction with the Korku Tribe's Mahua Collector family.
Most fire incidents in MP are associated with NTFP collection. Hence, we need to develop a policy that lessens the locals’ dependence on NTFPs and provides other livelihood alternatives. It will decrease local competition for NTFPs collection and reduce human-induced fire incidents in forested areas.
“The state or central government should initiate a scheme to provide mini ponds to the tribal families in case of wildfires; in case of fire events, these ponds can be utilised and the losses caused by fire can be minimised. These ponds can also be used for fishing, which will provide a livelihood alternative and decrease the dependence on forest,” a member of the community said during an interaction.
Formulating local interest-oriented policies and forest conservation programmes encourages communities to contribute more to forest conservation and hazard mitigation. Community forest committee members of each village should be paid for their incomparable contribution to controlling forest fires during the fire season.
Depending on how fire-prone the forest is, wildfire watcher towers should be installed and monitored during the fire season. Such measures can trace the spread of fire quickly and mitigate the loss.
Forest guards should be equipped with the latest technology and equipment to control forest fires. Governments should enable them with well-functioning modern technology. Technologies like GPS-installed instruments and well-structured dresses can help them reach the core portions of ignited areas and mitigate the loss effectively.
Policies on wildfires should be made more inclusive, considering local and traditional knowledge to control forest fires. Locals, forest dependents and tribals should be allowed to collect fuel woods from forests. This decreases the fuel load in the forest and lessens the fire’s intensity and extent.
The construction of developmental infrastructure, i.e., rail and road networks nearby forested areas, should be well-formulated and sustainable. Restricting tourism in highly vulnerable areas during the fire or intense summer seasons will help mitigate fire incidents.
The diffusion of information about the importance of the forest ecosystem in our daily lives through different mediums should be encouraged.
Thus, policymakers and stakeholders must address the devastating effects of forest fires on the tribals’ means of subsistence, cultural assets, health and vitality.
Issues revolving around forest fire prevention and management, sustainable livelihoods, traditional knowledge restoration and socioeconomic assistance for impacted populations should be primarily addressed.
Local communities, government agencies, non-profits and researchers must work together to mitigate forest fires and build resilient socioeconomic systems that prioritise tribal communities in Madhya Pradesh and beyond.
Views expressed are the author’s own and don’t necessarily reflect those of Down To Earth
Mohd Amin Khan is a Research Scholar at IIT Indore. He is also a Visiting PhD Scholar at ISRO. Amin’s major research area delves around the study of forest fire dynamics and its consequential effects on the socio-economic and cultural lives of the Indigenous tribal communities in Madhya Pradesh.
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