Forest fire wipes out vegetation on Varushanadu hill
APRIL 01, 2018 18:37 IST
Category: HAZE
Forest fire wipes out vegetation on Varushanadu hill
Forest fire wipes out vegetation on Varushanadu hill
Focus on threat due to man-made forest fire: Experts
Focus on threat due to a man-made forest fire: Experts
THE ASIAN AGE. | SONALI TELANG
Published: Mar 29, 2018, 1:17 am IST
Mumbai: The Draft National Forest policy focuses on preventing natural forest fires and upgrading the warning process but it makes no mention of the threat posed by man-made forest fires. In Maharashtra, which has the highest cases of forest fire registered in the country, environmentalists have claimed that most of the cases are of man-made fire incidents. The same has been observed in Mumbai and Thane.
The Draft National Forest Policy states, “Adequate measures would be taken to safeguard ecosystems from forest fires, map the vulnerable areas and develop and strengthen early warning systems and methods to control fire, based on remote sensing technology and community participation.” It also mentions that awareness will be created about causes and impacts of fire on forests and local livelihoods.
“Although there has been an acknowledgment on the increasing cases of forest fires, not much has been considered for the prevention of man-made fire in forests. In fact in forest areas of Raigad, there have been consistent cases of deliberate fire by arsonists. As such, apart from regular monitoring, we need better convictions for such miscreants,” said Godfrey Pimenta, Trustee of Watchdog Foundation. The organization has written to the state government stating that there have been over 250 instances of the forest fire in areas from Panvel to Ratnagiri destroying more than 1,000 acres of forest land over past few months.
As per the data submitted in the Lok Sabha last December, around 3,487 incidents of forest fire were recorded in Maharashtra alone in 2017.
While the policy has also highlighted on afforestation activities in the catchment areas for improving the health of rivers, not much focus has been given on the reasons behind the deterioration of these areas, claimed the NGO. “Apart from afforestation, there is an immediate need to check upon soil erosion and denudation in catchment areas of rivers, lakes, and reservoirs,” added Mr. Pimenta.
Mysterious smoking elephant emerges from a forest fire
Mysterious smoking elephant emerges from a forest fire
The Times
Wildlife experts are puzzling over a video of a wild Indian elephant exhaling a small cloud of ash it had picked up from the remains of a fire, which appeared to resemble smoking.
The video, which has only just come to light, was shot in Nagarhole forest in the southern state of Karnataka two years ago by Vinay Kumar, a scientist with the Wildlife Conservation Society. The society said that it was the first known evidence of an elephant exhibiting such behavior.
Indonesia mobilizes to combat health-damaging forest fires
Indonesia mobilizes to combat health-damaging forest fires
JAKARTA, INDONESIA
Four Indonesian provinces have declared emergencies in anticipation of worsening forest fires that each year spread health-damaging haze across much of Southeast Asia.
The National Disaster Mitigation Agency said Wednesday that emergency alerts in Riau and South Sumatra provinces on the island of Sumatra and West and Central Kalimantan on Borneo will make it easier to mobilize fire-fighting operations and support from the central government.
The agency said satellites have detected 90 “hotspots” or fires across Indonesia, with the biggest numbers in West and Central Kalimantan. Pontianak, the capital of West Kalimantan province, has been blanketed in smoke, it said.
Record Indonesian forest fires in 2015 spread haze across a swath of Southeast Asia and, according to a study by Harvard and Columbia universities, hastened 100,000 deaths.
Mempawah facing situation of emergency against haze of smoke
Published By: ANTARANEWS.com
Pontianak, W Kalimantan (ANTARA News) – The district administration of Mempawah of West Kalimantan has announced a situation of emergency against the haze of smokes with a number of peatland areas having caught fire as dry season began to hit the region.
“The status of emergency will last until June 30, 2018,” acting district head of Mempawah, Gusti Ramlana, said here on Sunday.
Gusti Ramlana said dots of bushfires had been monitored in a number of areas, adding the dry season began only early this month bur the impact is quite damaging.
“I hope the BPPD (local disaster mitigation agency) could give a map of areas vulnerable to forest and bushfires in Mempawah,” he said.
Read more: https://en.antaranews.com/news/114674/mempawah-facing-situation-of-emergency-against-haze-of-smoke
(U.SYS/A/H-ASG/F001)
Paro forest fire likely to be contained today
Paro forest fire likely to be contained today
The forest fire that has been raging for the last four days in Paro is likely to be contained today, dzongkhag officials say.
Paro’s dzongdag Tenzin Thinley said that the fire is subsiding for now. “It is almost contained and we are hoping it would be contained by today,” he said. “But, we cannot say for sure as it would depend on the wind and weather. Some animals such as yaks have been lost to the fire.”
He said that the fire didn’t reach the fire line that was created as personnel from the Royal Bhutan Police (RBP), the Royal Bhutan Army (RBA), Desuungs, community and volunteers helped douse the fire before it reached the fire-line.
“The weather was also favorable,” he said.
Read more: http://www.kuenselonline.com/paro-forest-fire-likely-to-be-contained-today/
Inggris Kucurkan Rp40 Miliar ke RI-Malaysia, untuk Apa Saja?
Inggris Kucurkan Rp40 Miliar ke RI-Malaysia, untuk Apa Saja?
By: Ezra Natalyn
Published by: Viva
VIVA – Inggris mendanai proyek baru untuk penanganan kebakaran hutan di Indonesia dan Malaysia dengan nilai 2 juta Poundsterling atau setara dengan Rp40 miliar. Program yang digagas Badan Antariksa Inggris ini disalurkan melalui jalur Program Kemitraan Internasional yaitu untuk mengatasi kebakaran hutan melalui satelit.
Proyek ini disebutkan merupakan salah satu dari 10 proyek baru di dunia yang melibatkan sejumlah organisasi di bidang ruang angkasa dengan total proyek seluruhnya hingga Rp720 miliar.
Read more by https://www.viva.co.id/berita/dunia/1007232-inggris-kucurkan-rp40-miliar-ke-ri-malaysia-untuk-apa-saja
Bangkok issues air pollution warning
BANGKOK • Residents of Bangkok, one of the world’s top tourist destinations, were warned yesterday that the city’s air quality had hit dangerous levels, just days after the pollution control agency appealed to residents to wear face masks.
Air pollution in the Thai capital has come under increasing scrutiny in recent weeks, with residents complaining of smog and respiratory problems. Some schools were closed yesterday while others kept children indoors.
Air Quality Index (AQI) formulas usually include up to six main pollutants including PM2.5, PM10, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and ground-level ozone.
Read more http://www.straitstimes.com/world/bangkok-issues-air-pollution-warning
Thai capital known for tourist sites chokes in polluted haze
BANGKOK (AP) — A cloud of unhealthy haze has settled across the Thai capital, shrouding the gilded temples and towering skyscrapers that draw millions of tourists to the city each year.
The country’s Pollution Control Department said Thursday that concentrations of tiny particles known as PM 2.5 that are a benchmark measure of air quality were almost double the levels considered safe.
Department officials blamed high humidity for contributing to the haze, while environmentalists cited the capital’s famously traffic-choked streets.
Asian Games should remain unaffected by forest fires: President
Jakarta (ANTARA News) – Implementation of the ASIAN Games in Indonesia should not be affected by smoke arising from forest and land fires, according to President Joko Widodo.
The 18th Asian Games will be organized from Aug 18 to Sept 2 at the Bung Karno Sports Arena of Jakarta and Jakabaring Sports City of Palembang in South Sumatra Province.
“This year, we host the ASIAN Games in Jakarta and Palembang. I remind you to not let the smoke from forest and land fires arise during the implementation of the event,” Widodo noted during a briefing to participants of the National Coordination Meeting on Forest and Land Fire Control in 2018 at the State Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday.
He pointed out that smoke from forest and land fires will tarnish the image of Indonesia and disrupt flights during the ASIAN Games.
“We have to work hard to ensure that the ASIAN Games run smoothly without any disturbance from forest and land fires,” he stated.
Read more https://en.antaranews.com/news/114525/asian-games-should-remain-unaffected-by-forest-fires-president
Reported by Joko Susilo
(T.M052/A/KR-BSR/F001)
(T.M052/A/KR-BSR/F001)