Consequences of forest fires
Q. Which of the following is/are true?
1) Soil erosion is one of the consequences of forest fires.
2) Burning of forest at the peak of the dry season helps to stimulate grass growth before the monsoon rains break.- Published on 13 May 16a. Only 1
b. Only 2
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2
ANSWER: Both 1 and 2
The Forest Survey of India, data on forest fire attribute around 50% of the forest areas as fire prone. This does not mean that country's 50% area is affected by fires annually. Very heavy, heavy and frequent forest fire damages are noticed only over 0.8%, 0.14% and 5.16% of the forest areas respectively.- A large fraction of India's deciduous and semi-deciduous forests is characterized by open and frequently burned stands. To reduce water stress the deciduous trees shed their leaves during the dry season. These fuels, together with the grass layer, allow the development of low- and medium-intensity surface fires almost every year. Many open forests are even affected by fire twice or three times per year.
- Collecting non-wood forest products in the dry deciduous is often associated with burning: The fire removes the leaf litter layer, and freshly fallen fruits become visible and easier to collect.
- Erosion is one of the severe consequences of fire-induced litter depletion.
