Wake-up call

The recent eruption of forest fires in multiple locations in Kashmir raises serious concerns regarding ecological degradation, wildlife endangerment, and public safety. In recent weeks, fire devastated large areas of green spaces in Kulgam, Srinagar and Anantnag, destroying thousands of life forms and ecologies. The government action to control those fires, both previous and recent, is well documented; however, the recurrence of fire events should compel both the government and the local community to advance their collective fire response efforts. Kashmir’s forests represent a natural possibility, which provides an ecological service of immeasurable value in the sustenance of biodiversity while serving a climate regulation and livelihood support, role. Fires threaten rare plants and animals, can contribute to soil erosion and degrade air quality. While drought and heat might contribute to fire potential, the human dimension – careless disposal of cigarettes or agricultural burning – must be acknowledged, categorized, and responsibly managed. A few of those areas have firebreaks with exit monitoring systems and response teams. Other states have technology and systems of early site detection with drone and satellite tracking; dealing with fire in Kashmir is significantly outdated and will need to adapt to deal with variable changing climate. Community and religious leaders should denounce burning grasslands in the dry season. The forest fires occurring in Kashmir in the last decade are not simply seasonal accidents. They indicate chronic mismanagement. A policy for sustainable forest management with strict implementation must be adopted in the long term by the government that covers all departments engaged in forest management. If we do not act in time, we risk losing our natural resources which are irreplaceable for simply our future generation’s existence. The fire in the forests in southern Kashmir should be taken as a warning; a warning that needs immediate action.