Identification of fire prone forest areas based on GIS analysis of archived forest fire points detected in the last thirteen years
Forest fires cause large scale destruction of forest resources and biodiversity in the country every year. One forest fire incident may nullify all efforts of conservation and plantations done in the past several years. A recent analysis done by FSI, shows that nearly 36% of country’s forests are prone to fires and of this, over 10% are highly prone. Forest fires in our country are largely of anthropogenic origin and therefore preventable to a large extent. Apart from public awareness and their participation in controlling forest fires, use of all the technological options for prevention, detection, early warning, fire fighting and damage assessment should be employed under a scientifically prepared forest fire management plan for each district or forest division. Geospatial technological tools and techniques have been very effectively used in forest fire management world over in the last couple of decades. Forest Survey of India also took an early initiative in using geospatial technology in forest fire applications in the country.
