Wildfire Risk Rises in Kanchanpur Forests Amid Dry Weather, Preparation Efforts Questioned

Kanchanpur. With the rising heat, the risk of forest fires is also beginning to increase in the forest areas of Kanchanpur. As the autumn season begins, leaves are falling in the forests and new shoots are emerging, increasing the danger that even a small spark could turn into a major wildfire due to the dry environment.

Even in this sensitive situation, effective preparatory programs for wildfire control have not been adequately implemented in the district. The risk of fire appears high in the forests at the foothills of the Chure range and in the areas surrounding the Laljhadi-Mohana Conservation Area. Maheshdutta Joshi, Chairman of the Community Forest Coordination Committee (CFCC) Kanchanpur, stated that necessary preparations and awareness activities for fire control are insufficient in the community forests located in that area.

According to him, the focus of everyone has recently been centered on the election atmosphere, causing the issue of forest conservation to be sidelined. “Necessary preparations should be made to prevent forest fires, but the attention of governmental and non-governmental bodies does not seem to be focused on it,” he said.

Chairman Joshi added that the environment is becoming extremely dry, and the possibility of fire has further increased due to the long dry spell. “The air is dry, the temperature is rising; in such a condition, even a small spark can turn the entire forest area to ashes,” he said, “Stakeholders should pay attention to this, but no agency has shown interest so far.” The direct impact of climate change is also visible in the forests.

Punarama Chaudhary, Chairman of Sita Community Forest, stated that a forest fire would directly impact biodiversity. He mentioned the risk of destroying natural habitats for wildlife and a large number of reptiles that move by crawling.

“When a fire breaks out in the forest, large animals can flee, but small animals and reptiles cannot escape the fire,” he said. Furthermore, he noted the equal risk of millions of rupees worth of timber, precious medicinal herbs, and forest resources being destroyed by fire. He added that in light of this challenge, emphasis is being placed on clearing fire lines.

Keeping this risk in mind, some community forests have started emphasizing the cleaning of fire lines and removing dry leaves and debris accumulated inside the forest. However, due to limited resources, such activities are not being effectively implemented in all forest areas. The area from Laljhadi to the Chure region is considered a very important corridor for wildlife movement.

According to him, while the fire control team should be kept on active alert in such a risky situation, that arrangement has not been effective. “The information system should also be streamlined, but that is also not sufficiently active,” he said.

There are 94 community forests in the Laljhadi-Mohana Conservation Area alone. The Division Forest Office, however, stated that preparations are underway to conduct awareness programs for wildfire mitigation. Laxmi Raj Joshi, Divisional Forest Officer of the office, said that community forest officials and consumers are being made aware to reduce the incidence of forest fires.

“We have informed community forest officials verbally and through correspondence to carry out tasks such as cleaning fire lines and removing dry leaves and debris accumulated in the forest,” he said. He also informed that informational messages are being broadcast through FM radio and print media to spread public awareness about the risks posed by wildfires. However, he admitted a lack of sufficient budget for wildfire control. “The budget for wildfire control is limited, so we are moving forward by mobilizing community forest officials and consumers,” he said.

He stated that there are plans to organize awareness discussions, seminars, and interaction programs related to wildfires in various locations soon to alert local residents. The Division Forest Office also stated that preparations are being made to arrange necessary equipment and tools for immediate control in areas where fires break out. He mentioned that if necessary, arrangements have been made to extinguish fires by fitting water tanks onto tractors.

Similarly, the office announced plans to distribute necessary materials for wildfire control to the Community Forest User Groups. Divisional Forest Officer Joshi informed that a week-long program is being prepared to be conducted to enhance public awareness as the risk of wildfires is increasing. “Although resources are limited, preparations are being made to work in coordination among employees, community forest officials, security personnel, and local consumers to control potential wildfires in the forest area,” he said.

Bahadur Singh Mahara, Chairman of the Baijanath Community Forest User Committee, stated that effective advance preparation should be made in time as the risk of wildfires is increasing. “Forest conservation is not just the responsibility of government agencies but a shared responsibility of the local community, community forest groups, and stakeholders,” he said. “If dry leaf management, construction of fire lines, and awareness programs are conducted at the local level, the risk of fire can be reduced to a great extent.”

The risk of fire increases every year in these areas due to dry weather, the autumn season, and human activities. More than 90 percent of forest fires are caused by human actions. Fires are often caused by activities such as picnickers leaving fires unattended, herders setting fires in the hope of new grass growth, and hunters using fire to chase animals.