T reports 13k forest fires in ’24, tiger reserves see surge | Hyderabad News – Times of India

Hyderabad: Telangana’s forests are battling an unprecedented fiery crisis, with forest fire incidents skyrocketing from 12,927 cases in 2017 to a staggering 13,497 in 2024, according to the India State of Forest Report 2023. This rise has catapulted Telangana to seventh place among Indian states and union territories with the highest number of fire incidents.
The report sheds light on the severity of the situation, highlighting Mulugu and Bhadradri Kothagudem districts among the top 10 districts nationwide for forest fire incidents. Between November 2023 and June 2024, Telangana recorded a 3,983.28 sq km of burnt forest area, , trailing Andhra Pradesh (5,286.76 sq km) and Maharashtra (4,095.04 sq km).
“Forest fires have been an integral part of forest ecosystems, playing a pivotal role in shaping their conservation and management. Despite their benefits in terms of facilitating regeneration and clearing forest floors, the losses associated with fires far outweigh these benefits. Dry winters and delayed monsoons lead to heightened fire events causing extensive damage,” read the report, adding, “Additionally, human negligence frequently leads to forest fires. The consequences of such fires are substantial, encompassing human casualties, biodiversity depletion, habitat destruction, reduced production, landscape degradation, and disturbances to livelihoods.”
Negligent practices
The heat is also on the state’s tiger reserves. The Nagarjunsagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve witnessed a spike in fire incidents from 1,919 in 2019 to 2,644 in 2024, while the Amrabad Tiger Reserve saw numbers climb from 897 to 1,224 during same period.
Forest officials attribute about 80% of these fires to human activities, pointing to negligent practices like beedi smoking by shepherds and cowherds, as well as slash-and-burn agricultural methods employed by farmers. Intentional fires for land encroachment are also prevalent in rural areas, exacerbating the situation.
“Agricultural activities such as burning crop residues through controlled burns can also get out of control and lead to wildfires. Sparks from machinery or power lines can also ignite dry vegetation, especially during hot and windy conditions.,” said a forest department official.