Forest fires will impact climate, warn experts
Source: Chronicle News Service / Mission Oinam
Imphal, June 16 2023:
Vast expanse of forest areas in Manipur have been destroyed within a short pe -riod of time this year.
As such, environmental experts have stated that there could be significant changes in the climatic conditions of the state in the upcoming years.
According to a report of the Forest Department obtained by The People's Chronicle, around 1,993.5 hectare of forest areas including 799.5 hectare of reserved forest, 406 hectare of protected forest and 778 hectare of plantation area covered by Bishnupur, Thoubal and Tengnoupal districts and Central Forest Division were destroyed by fire from May 3 to 12 .
From May 3 to 10, around 10.5 hectare of reserve forest, 302 hectare of protected forest and 225 hectare of forest plantation area covered by Bishnupur Forest Division were set on fire.
Around 639 hectares of reserve forest covered by Central Forest Division were also set ablaze during the eight-day span.
On May 5 and 6, 30 hectare of reserve forest areas, 100 hectare of protected forest areas and 553 hectare of plantation area covered by Tengnoupal Forest Division were burned down to ashes while from May 3 to 8,120 hectare of reserve forest area and 4 hectare of protected forest area covered by Thou bal Forest Division were set on fire, the report conveyed.
Meanwhile, a report of the Forest Survey of India said that around 496 bushfires were reported in 10 different forest divisions of Manipur from May 1 to 12.The fires were reported in Bishnupur (3), Central (55), Chu rachandpur (85), Jiribam (2), Kangpokpi (56), Tamenglong (12), Tengnoupal (68), Thou bal (20), Senapati (35) and Ukhrul (160) .
The Indian State for Forest Report (ISFR), 2021 also stated that in 2021, the total forest area in Manipur decreased by 289 sq km i.e., by about 1.48 per cent, while the country had an overall increase of 2261 sq km.
Region-wise, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh ranked at the top as the states with highest depleting forest cover.
Speaking to this daily, some environmental experts cautioned that the deforestation rate in Manipur has increasing alarmingly within a decade.
Thus, the after-effects of this adverse trend led to rise in temperature, irregular rainfall, frequent flash floods, droughts and landslides.
Amid this, it is unfortunate that mass areas of reserve forests, protected forests and areas currently in early stages of afforestation were destroyed in bushfires.
This is bound to affect the climatic condition within the next few years, the experts forewarned.
(This article is being published as part of the 3rd State Level Fellowship on 'Climate Change Reporting' taken up under the Directorate of Environment and Climate) .