5,457 hectares lost in forest fire

Kerala has lost 5,457 hectares of pristine forest land to forest fire during the summer.As many as 920 accidents of fire outbreak were reported this season. The worst affected was the Eastern Forest Division covering Palakkad and Nilambur areas where 1,530 hectares of forest land was lost in 182 accidents of fire outbreak, according to latest estimates.However, the summer rain has come as a relief to forest managers. "The fire risk has come down considerably, and most forest areas are now out of danger due to the summer showers," said T.M. Manoharan, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests.The Southern Circle region comprising Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram and Pathanamthitta districts also suffered heavy loss. Here 408 hectares were destroyed in 270 accidents. Wildlife sanctuaries, including Thekkady, Munnar, Chinnar, Eravikulam, Silent Valley and Parambikulam, also faced fire distress. The loss was estimated at 948 hectares in 73 accidents, according to Forest authorities.The loss of biodiversity has not been estimated, as no mechanism is in place for such an evaluation. No loss of wildlife was reported, Mr. Manoharan said.The loss of 5,457 hectares cannot be termed a major loss considering the total 11 lakh hectares of forest land of the State.However, the Department has taken serious note of the loss and intensified the fire prevention activities as reports of fire outbreak came in, Mr. Manoharan said.With most parts of the forest area receiving good rain, the evergreen forests are out of danger. The grasslands of Thekkady and Eravikulam National Park are now relatively safe. During the second week of April, Eravikulam regularly received rain in the evening. The fire protection works in Eravikulam were better than that undertaken in the Tamil Nadu side of the Park, he said.Considering the gravity of the situation in the State, camps were set up in the fire-prone areas.Chief Conservators of Forests were assigned the charge of each district and fire prevention activities were coordinated. The department undertook all possible measures using its limited resources and manpower, Mr. Manoharan said.The possibility of man-animal conflict in the fringe areas of the forests has come down as fodder and water have become available for the wild animals in their habitats, said K.P. Ouseph, Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife).

The Hindu, 25th April 2009