Environment

Everything You Need To Know About Similipal’s Forest Fire

Situated in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district, the Similipal National Park and Tiger Reserve is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. Spread in over 2,750 sq. km, it is the 7th largest national park in India, has grabbed many eyeballs due to a widespread forest fire.

Although, after more than a week, the devastating fire burning through Asia’s 2nd largest biosphere reserve is now brought under control.

Fire is brought under control, officials

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik reviewed the fire situation at the national park and said that there was no loss of life or damage to big trees. CM took to Twitter and said an SOP has been issued to deal with the situation and senior officials are present on the spot to monitor the forest fire and give daily updates.CM said Similipal is an invaluable treasure not for the country but for the entire world.

Union Forest Minister Prakash Javadekar also had directed the concerned officials to take immediate steps to control the wildfire. He had issued directions in response to a tweet by Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on the Similipal fire situation.

What causes forest fires in Simlipal?

The Simlipal forest reserve area is prone to forest fires during dry weather conditions. Due to the sudden onset of the dry season in February, parts of the forest caught wildfire.

The raging flames devoured 8 out of the total 21 ranges of the Similipal forest division till Wednesday.

“The fire is under control, no loss or injury to wildlife, and staff, villagers or public property has been reported,” the Director-General of National Tiger Conservation Authority, S.P. Yadav, told IANS.

He further added that all the forest fires are recorded as the ground fire in the deciduous Sal forest of Simlipal Tiger Reserve, he said. He claimed that the forest fire season in Simlipal Tiger Reserve usually starts in February and continues till May.

Manmade factors contribute to the forest fire

The forest fires are a recurring phenomenon in Simlipal that cannot be entirely blamed upon the dry season or global warming. Such rampant forest could also be manmade, said Environment Litigant, Bharat Jhunjhunwala. Hunters set a small patch of forest on fire to distract the animals. Poachers do not douse the fire after hunting and as the area is dry, the fire spreads quickly.

The region around Similipal forests is populated by a variety of tribes that constitute 73 per cent of the total population. It is said that villagers believe burning patches of sal trees will lead to better growth when planted again.

Also, some of the villagers burn the jungle to clear the dry leaves for a comfortable collection of mahua flowers. Mahua flowers are used to prepare a local additive drink.

Beside manmade factors, the advanced heatwave that dominated with the early onset of summer further worsened the forest fire in Simlipal.

History of Similipal

Similipal derives its name from ‘Simul’ tree, which is a red silk cotton tress found abundantly in the jungle. The park is known for its Bengal tiger, the Asian elephant, Four-horned antelope or chausingha population. Surrounded by Joranda and Barehipani waterfall, the jungle is the habitat of 94 species of orchids, 55 species of mammals, 304 species of birds, 60 species of reptiles, 21 species of amphibians, 38 species of fish and 164 species of butterflies.

The government of India on June 22, 2004, declared Similipal and the adjoining areas a biosphere reserve. The Similipal forest area is prone to forest fires that usually is in control due to precipitation. The last forest fire was reported in 2015.

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