Syllabus: GS-I, Subject: Geography, Topic: Geo-physical Phenomenon, Issue: Forest fires
Context: Forest fires in Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu
India’s vulnerability to forest fire:
- November to June is considered the forest fire season in India.
- Over 36% of India’s forest cover is prone to frequent fires.(ISFR-2019)
- Approximately 4% of forest cover is ‘extremely prone’ to fire, while another 6% is ‘very highly’ fire prone.
Factors responsible for forest fire:
- Natural: Hot and dry temperatures, high tree density, and conducive weather conditions.
- Human carelessness such as discarded cigarettes or natural causes like lightning strikes.
This year, high aridity, above-normal day temperatures, clear skies, and calm winds in southern India have led to a spike in forest fire incidents.
