Issues

Recommendations

No dedicated study empirically links climate change to rising forest fire frequency in Himalayan region.

Conduct region-specific retrospective studies and integrate findings into Ministry's forest fire prevention and management

guidelines

Absence of consolidated national record on forest fire casualties hampers accountability and evidence-based policymaking.

Develop centralized database by State Governments on forest fire casualties and compensation for effective monitoring and policymaking.

Relying on foreign polar-orbiting satellites (MODIS)creates observational gap indiurnal fire monitoring cycle (i.e., no satellite pass between 01:30–10:30 and 13:30–22:30). 

Launch geostationary satellite by Department of Space capable of round the clock monitoring forest fires.

Historical-ecological evidencegap has left the dominance of Chir Pine—and its role in worsening forest fires—largely unexamined.

Undertake dedicated historical-ecological study by Forest Research Institute to trace changes in forest composition in Western Himalayan belt.

No scientific studies on containing or eradicating invasive tree species despite their spread across Western Himalayas.

Launch dedicated programme for eradication of invasive species, and Himalayan Oak and Deodar Regeneration Mission for Oak and Deodar regeneration across Western Himalayan region.             . 

• Pine needle collection is uneconomical in forests located over 500 m from motorable roads.
• Limited 3–4 month collection window due to seasonal shedding, and reduced utility during monsoon.

• Formulate National pine-needle utilisation policy to identify zones and provide fiscal and market-access incentives for pine needle collection.
• Himalayan Biomass Management Framework where Pine needle management is recognized as a formal forest-fire mitigation activity.
• MoEFCC to establish National or Regional Pine Needle Management Board, for overall supervision