Roundtable Dialogue on forest fire in Doon Library and Research Center
Dehradun, July 26, 2024
The Doon Library and Research Center convened an important roundtable to address the persistent issue of forest fires in the Himalayan region. Despite advancements in science and technology, these fires, prevalent from February to June, continue to devastate the Himalayas, impacting vegetation, biodiversity, and forest composition.
This interdisciplinary event aimed to develop targeted mitigation strategies and foster collaborative efforts for better fire management in Uttarakhand.
Prof. B.K. Joshi, Chairman of the Doon Library and Research Centre, opened the discussion by highlighting the urgency of finding solutions for fire mitigation in the region. Prof. S.P. Singh, a renowned ecologist and founding Chairman of CEDAR, emphasized the need for comprehensive research on the aftermath of forest fires, focusing on human-fire interactions, changing fire regimes, and plant adaptation traits.
Dr. Rajeev Bhartari, former PCCF and HoFF, Uttarakhand, stressed the importance of continuous engagement with the community to develop a robust fire management plan. He shared perspectives from his experiences in the US and Canada and highlighted the need for focused workshops for diverse expert inputs.
A.R. Sinha, former PCCF, underscored the importance of providing quality safety gear to forest guards and community firefighters and ensuring timely fund releases for firefighting efforts. He noted that biomass accumulation increases fire severity, affecting soil compaction and groundwater recharge.
Anoop Nautiyal of SDC Foundation, advocated for implementing recommendations from a 2022 workshop organized by CEDAR and emphasized the need to inform political leaders about the impacts of forest fires for better decision-making.
Pankaj Joshi of WWF-India and Dr. Gajendra Rawat of USAC highlighted the critical role of remote sensing technology in detecting fire hotspots and enhancing fire management efficiency. They suggested incentivizing institutions like Van-Panchayats to protect against fires through a system of incentivization.
Beeju Negi, leader of the Beej Bachao Andolan, highlighted the severe impact of forest fires on underground ecosystems and stressed the need for comprehensive fire management and ecological restoration strategies.
Dr. Vishal Singh, Executive Director of CEDAR and C.S. Tewari of Doon Library concluded the roundtable by emphasizing that fire is a complex issue requiring collaborative and active management to prevent future catastrophic fires.
