Hyderabad: Telangana’s forests are battling an unprecedented fiery disaster, with forest hearth incidents skyrocketing from 12,927 circumstances in 2017 to a staggering 13,497 in 2024, based on the India State of Forest Report 2023. This rise has catapulted Telangana to seventh place amongst Indian states and union territories with the very best variety of hearth incidents.
The report sheds gentle on the severity of the state of affairs, highlighting Mulugu and Bhadradri Kothagudem districts among the many prime 10 districts nationwide for forest hearth incidents. Between November 2023 and June 2024, Telangana recorded a 3,983.28 sq km of burnt forest space, trailing Andhra Pradesh (5,286.76 sq km) and Maharashtra (4,095.04 sq km).
“Forest fires have been an integral part of forest ecosystems, playing a pivotal role in shaping their conservation and management. Despite their benefits in terms of facilitating regeneration and clearing forest floors, the losses associated with fires far outweigh these benefits. Dry winters and delayed monsoons lead to heightened fire events causing extensive damage,” learn the report, including, “Additionally, human negligence frequently leads to forest fires. fires are substantial, encompassing human casualties, biodiversity depletion, habitat destruction, reduced production, landscape degradation, and disturbances to livelihoods.”
Negligent practices
The warmth can also be on the state’s tiger reserves. The Nagarjunsagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve witnessed a spike in hearth incidents from 1,919 in 2019 to 2,644 in 2024, whereas the Amrabad Tiger Reserve noticed numbers climb from 897 to 1,224 throughout the identical interval.
Forest officers attribute about 80% of those fires to human actions, pointing to negligent practices like beedi smoking by shepherds and cowherds, in addition to slash-and-burn agricultural strategies employed by farmers. Intentional fires for land encroachment are additionally prevalent in rural areas, exacerbating the state of affairs.
“Agricultural activities such as burning crop residues through controlled burns can also get out of control and lead to wildfires. Sparks from machinery or power lines can also ignite dry vegetation, especially during hot and windy conditions.,” mentioned a forest division official.
