Monday, March 23, 2015

Auditing of preparedness for wildfire at Sharavathi wildlife sanctuary on 4/5th weekend of April

FOREST FIRE 


Forest fire causes imbalances in nature and endangers biodiversity by reducing fauna and floral wealth. Traditional methods of fire prevention are not proving effective and it is now essential to raise public awareness on the matter, particularly among those people who live close to or in forested areas.

CAUSES OF FOREST FIRE
Traditionally Indian forests have been affected by fires. The menace has been aggravated with rising human and cattle population and the consequent increase in demand for forest products by individuals and communities. Causes of forest fires can be divided into two broad categories: environmental (which are beyond control) and human related (which are controllable).

1. Environmental causes are largely related to climatic conditions such as temperature, wind speed and direction, level of moisture in soil and atmosphere and duration of dry spells. Other natural causes are the friction of bamboos swaying due to high wind velocity and rolling stones that result in sparks setting off fires in highly inflammable leaf litter on the forest floor.

2. Human related causes result from human activity as well as methods of forest management.  These can be intentional or unintentional, for example

• Grazers and gatherers of various forest products starting small fires to obtain good grazing grass as well as to facilitate gathering of minor forest produce like flowers of Madhuca indica and leaves of Diospyros melanoxylon

• The centuries old practice of shifting cultivation (especially in the North-Eastern region of India and in parts of the States of Orissa and Andhra Pradesh).

• the use of fires by villagers to ward off wild animals

• fires lit intentionally by people living around forests for recreation

• fires started accidentally by careless visitors to forests who discard cigarette butts.

The causes of forest fire have been increasing rapidly. The problem has been accentuated by the growing human and cattle population. People enter forests ever more frequently to graze cattle, collect fuel wood, timber and other minor forest produce. It has been estimated that 90% of forest fires in India are man-made.

EFFECT OF FOREST FIRE

Fires are a major cause of forest degradation and have wide ranging adverse ecological, economic and social impacts, including:

  • Loss of valuable timber resources,
  • Degradation of catchment areas,
  • Loss of biodiversity and extinction of plants and animals,
  • Loss of wildlife habitat and depletion of wildlife,
  • Loss of natural regeneration and reduction in forest cover,
  • Global warming,
  • Loss of carbon sink resource and increase in percentage of CO2 in atmosphere,
  • Change in the micro climate of the area with unhealthy living conditions,
  • Soil erosion affecting productivity of soils and production,
  • Ozone layer depletion,
  • Health problems leading to diseases,
  • Loss of livelihood for tribal people and The rural poor, as approximately 300 million people are directly dependent upon collection of non-timber forest products from forest areas for their livelihood.

​ As responsible trekkers and nature lovers, we should work towards saving our flora and fauna from wildfire. To start with, we plan to work with kogar range of Sharavathi wildlife sanctuary. Idea is to audit the preparedness for wildfire eventuality by department.   ​

Fallowing is the Itinerary planned.
3-4-2015
  • Start from Bangalore
4-4-2015
  • Reach Muppane nature camp. Freshen up and Have breakfast
  • Briefing about wildfire survey by Kogar range RFO.
  • Farm a subgroup and disperse.
  • Return to base camp by evening, have high tea and campfire time
  • Interactive session on various issues of forest conservation. session will be moderated by Mr.Imran Patel of Wildlife crime control bureau. This is autonomous body of National Tiger council.
  • Have dinner and retire for the day
5-4-2015
  • Freshen up and have breakfast.
  • various water sports activities like kayaking, canoeing and coracle ride in Sharavathi backwater
  • Have lunch and visit Jogfalls.
  • Start journey towards Bangalore.
Cost : Cost will be around Rs.1500/head. This includes food, stay, water sports activities and travel.
Please check photos of last month volunteer work on muppane clean up activities

By Sampath
https://www.flickr.com/photos/129701958@N07/sets/72157650665765307/

By Murali
https://plus.google.com/photos/115560532966265290012/albums/6121604679444710353?authkey=CLyJwOLxjvOG9AEPlease register ASAP. We are limiting participants to be at 25.

Regards
--
Sampath Kumar
Mob:   9663585591 / 9483694091

"Save Water, Save Energy and Save Earth for our next Generation"

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