Forest Fire Monitoring-An Integrated Approach to Sustain Forest Bio-diversity.

Abstract

Lack of appropriate forest spatial information has been a major challenge in Nepal. In the hilly and mountain regions of Nepal, forest fire is very common. Once there is a forest fire, there is loss of biodiversity including wildlife and their breeding points. The problem is the lack of forest fire warning and management system. The forests of Nepal encompass a variety of endangered species, flora and fauna. The most important of them are Royal Bengal Tiger, Red Panda, Rhiniceros, Codiceps Sinensis (Yarshagumba), Dactylorhiza hatagirea, Rheum Emodi and so on. These valuable species have recognized Nepal all over the world. When there is a forest fire , these species come at direct threats of destruction both by fire or human attack, thus causing an irreparable loss to forest biodiversity.

Basically in response to management and conservation, areas of high biodiversity sensitivity are taken as high alert and people residing near the forests are given forest related training and information. A real time mobile application showing the forest degradation and loss due to fire and other catastrophic events are provided through satellite maps and data to the nearby residents in order to get immediate warning of forest fires. Forest fire maps, community based data, biodiversity data, forest fire triggering factors are the most important results I have obtained.

Forest Fire maps, biodiversity sensitive maps and spatial data would be of great use to WWF, Forest Department and NGO-INGO. Our maps have helped a lot to WWF, Department of Forest, NGO, INGOs in taking conservation measures and awareness program. My work has raised community awareness and an integrated approach for conserving forest and forest species, promoted forestation and above all developed the concept of community forest, that is, community responsibility to conserve forest. So, forest fires can be monitored and controlled if there is an integrated approach through local, communal and government effort.