Forest fires increased 1,339% in Himachal Pradesh, 2,822% in J&K: SOFR 2023

The number of forest fire incidents in the mountain regions of Himachal Pradesh have increased by 1,339 per cent, while that in Jammu & Kashmir rose 2,822 per cent the last fire season, according to the State of Forest Report 2023.

Uttarakhand reported an increase in forest fire incidents by 293 per cent, according to Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) data used by the environment ministry.

While there was an overall reduction in forest fire incidents, many states showed an increase in the incidents of forest fires during November 2023-June 2024, compared to the previous season, according to the analysis.

The Government of India used satellite data to map and monitor forest fire. During the forest fire season 2021-22, the number of hotspots detected by two satellites were 253,008, the report showed.

The forest fires are recorded between November and June.

In the following year, the numbers were 243,394, while in 2023-24, the incidents picked up by sensors reduced to 229,934. 

The report noted that from November 2023 through June 2024, a total of 2,434,562.33 square kilometres of forests were engulfed in fire. 

The largest forest areas affected by fire was in Andhra Pradesh recording 5,287 sq km, followed by Maharashtra with 4,095 sq km and Telangana 3,983 sq km.

The increase in fire incidents, especially in the Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand were alarming, said Debadityo Sinha, senior resident fellow and lead of the climate & ecosystems team at Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy.

“Districts like Nainital, Pauri Garhwal and Shimla entered the top 20 for forest fires,” Sinha observed. The sudden rise in incidents in the Himalayan region raises concerns on the underlying causes, he added.

According to the report, Punjab saw a 400 per cent increase in forest fire incidents and Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana and Sikkim reported 128 per cent, 111 per cent, 102 per cent and 106 per cent increase in fire incidents.

Tamil Nadu recorded a 69 per cent increase, Uttar Pradesh 36 per cent, Gujarat 35 per cent, Mizoram 14 per cent and Telangana 2.8 per cent. 

Union territories such as Ladakh saw a 60 per cent increase in forest fires, while Andaman and Nicobar islands witnessed a 5 per cent rise. 

“Can these be attributed to climate change, poor monitoring or something else? The report has no mention of the reasons,” Sinha said.
Goa and Karnataka saw the highest reduction in forest fires, by 75 per cent and 57 per cent respectively.

In India, severe fires are prevalent in many forest types, especially dry deciduous forests; whereas evergreen, semi-evergreen, and montane temperate forests are relatively less susceptible, the authors of the report observed.