Fire Ecology is the branch of ecology that concentrates on forest fires. This basically focuses on fires that occur in the natural environment and the relationship between these fires and all the living non-living organisms around it.
According to the Fire Ecologists, some wildland fires are important for our ecosystem.
In the 1930's fire was considered bad and a reason for devastation and loss but gradually researchers realised the importance of fire for a healthy biodiversity.
Fire prepared soil for seeding by creating open seedbeds.
This removes small bushes or alien plants which obstruct the growth of native plants.
Reduces fuel build up which in turn reduces the risk of large fires.
Fire controls the infestation of insects or pests that ruin plants. These fires also bring down parasitic load which is important to ward off zoological diseases.
Burnt trees are a home to nesting birds and also acts as a compost for new growing plants.
What causes forest fires?
90% of wildland fires are caused by humans. This can be accidental like an unattended campfire, cigarette or burning debris. 10% of fires fall under natural occurrences like lightning.
According to the Indian State of Forest Report around 20% of our forest area is extremely fire prone.
The naturally occurring biomass that is dry litter and vegetation acts as fuel to start the fire. Wet forests and tropical evergreen forests have biomass but they are too wet to start a fire. So the best scope for fire is a condition somewhere in the middle.
Bandipur National Park Fire 2019
A huge fire broke out in Bandipur National Park. This is a dry deciduous forest spanning up to 87,400 hectares. Heavy biomass load, high temperature, low rainfall and dry winds attributed to the massive fire. Many small mammals and reptiles died and thousands of trees got burned.
What do we understand from this?
Researchers claim that forests are well adapted to fire and the majority of trees and animals remain unharmed. Forest Fires do act as a catalyst for our biodiversity but excess of anything is bad and harmful.
WRITER- SHRUTI NAIR
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