Forest Fires in Himachal Pradesh :

Excessive reliance on the Pine tress in the past few decades in the mid –Himalyan region of the state has become a major source of forest fires. The State Forest department had been planting pine trees in fores areas in the past few decades due to better survival rate of the tree.

Today Pine forests comprise about 20 % of the total forest area of Dharamshala circle. The Pine forests have created problems for farmers as well as the forest department. Pine trees have an allelopathic impact. Allelopathy is a biological phenomenon  by which pine trees produce bio – Chemicals that do not allow any kind of vegetation growth in surroundings. There is hardly any undergrowth of grass in the Pine forests. Besides there is generally a heavy deposition  of dried Pine needles under the trees. These needles are highly inflammable and easily catch fire, especially during summers when the temperatures are high.

Farmers generally set fire in Pine forests with the hope that in the forthcoming monsoon, there would be a good growth of grass that can be used as fodder for animals. The possible solution to prevent fire in Pine forests is the removal of dried Pine needles from the undergrowth.  Dried Pine needles have a high combustible value. Technology is available for converting dried Pine needles into combustible bricks. Already Pine needles are being used in kilns in cement plants in Solan distt. However the use is limited and a low percentage of bio – waste generated by Pine trees is being used in the state. In case the government made it compulsory  for brick – kiln owners and cement plants to use certain portion of Pine needle fuel in their kilns, it would generate the demand for bio waste of Pine trees.

The government should ban future plantations of Pine trees in the mid – Himalyan region. With this, the percentage of pine forests can be reduced over a period of time. The growth of Lantana was also responsible for fires in the forest areas. In Dharamshala circle, Lantana has spread across 3500 hectares.

Fire Management :

The fire incidence is a regular feature in the Chil Pine areas of the state. Normally local people set their ghasines on fire for better production of grass. Incidently the fires moves to the nearby forests and becomes uncontrolled. The people are not aware about  the hazardous effects of the fire on the flora and fauna. The forest department has although been implementing the intensification of the Forest Management Scheme ( CSS ) for fire management but the desired outputs are far from being satisfactory.

It has been recommended that people participation in the fire management need to be ensured and enhanced. The new technologies like briquette manufacturing of chil needles, monetary incentives need to be introduced for the Panchyats  and municipalities to reduce fire incidences in their areas.