Impact of Forest Fires on Invertebrate Bioindicators in Uttarakhand, India, Western Himalaya
Abstract ID: 3.7698 | Accepted as Talk | Talk/Oral | TBA | TBA
Virendra Prasad Uniyal (0)
Pansare, Pratik (1)
Virendra Prasad Uniyal ((0) Graphic Era University, Dehradun, 248002, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, IN)
Pansare, Pratik (1)
(0) Graphic Era University, Dehradun, 248002, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, IN
(1) Graphic Era University, Dehradun, 248002, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
Forest fires are a natural phenomenon occurring frequently in various forest types across the western Himalayan region of India, particularly causing significant disturbances and loss to forest ecosystems. These fires, exacerbated by factors such as lightning and traditional community practices, pose a considerable threat to biodiversity. Communities often use controlled fires to maintain surrounding grasslands, further adding to the frequency of forest fires. Uttarakhand, a state in this region, experiences forest fires annually during the summer season. The frequency and scale of these fires have increased in recent years. Leveraging satellite data for real-time monitoring and mapping has become essential in assessing the substantial damage these fires inflict on natural resources. The effects of forest fires on biological diversity are profound and far-reaching. At a global scale, forest fires contribute significantly to carbon emissions, exacerbating global warming and leading to potential biodiversity loss. To better understand the impact of frequent forest fires on biodiversity and forest community dynamics, a study was conducted in different forest divisions of Garhwal. The study involved surveying forest fire regimes, recently burnt areas, and control sites across six forest divisions. We assessed floral and faunal diversity, including potential indicator species of invertebrates and their associated communities. The findings revealed that insect diversity was highest in areas with low fire frequency and significantly reduced in areas with frequent fires, indicating a loss of macrohabitats due to the adverse effects of forest fires. The consequences of these fires are severe, extending beyond biodiversity loss to include soil erosion, air pollution, and negative impacts on ecosystems and human communities. Moreover, forest fires contribute to climate change and pose a substantial threat to the health and resilience of forest ecosystems in the region.
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