Decision-maker:
Shri. Praveen N.R. - Chief Conservator of Forests (Pune).
Shri. Sudhir Mungantiwar - Maharashtra Govt Minister of Forest, Cultural Affairs and Fisheries
Demands
Immediate allocation of additional resources, including manpower and firefighting equipment, to the Pune Forest Department to effectively manage and prevent forest fires.
Create, maintain, and monitor scientifically advised fire lines within the forests and put out reports of this work in the public domain.
Release a timeline for the constitution of the 24 camps and the observers responsible for the protection of the forest.
Regularly engaging with farmers around the forests to build awareness around stubble burning and its impacts on forest fires.
What’s the issue
Pune witnessed 37 forest fires during 2023. However, within the first three months of 2024, Pune has alarmingly reported 22 incidents of forest fires, with at least 7 of them being in the Sinhagad Forest Area. The Sinhagad forest is spread over a sprawling 3000 acres of land. Normally these fires are associated with the summer months, yet they have begun earlier this year, which is a truly concerning fact. By March 11, 2024 alone, two hectares of forest land had been ravaged by fires.
The fires have snatched significant areas of forest land, posing a threat to the environment, its wildlife, and the local communities, striving to protect it. While the temperatures are rising and contributing to the increasing forest fires, another alarming trend has emerged; that of the winter getting shorter and less cold.
Controlling the blaze has been a challenging task due to inadequate manpower and lack of resources in the forest department. Pune’s forest department has made promises of more firefighting equipment, including mechanized blowers being deployed and collaborative efforts on the part of local communities and the authorities to tackle the issue.
However, this is not enough. We need to see the implementation of the initiatives being announced. Urgent action is needed to ensure additional resources are allocated to deal with the problem, else we risk losing our Sinhagad forest forever.
The situation is extremely time-sensitive considering the early onset of what is predicted to be a scorching summer (slated to be a record-breaking warm year). While the authorities have made announcements, we need to demand implementation and accountability in order to ensure our forests are not destroyed forever!
Sources
P.S. Pune’s forests hold a special place in our hearts—they’re more than just trees and wildlife; it's an emotion. However, with the increasing occurrences of forest fires, we face the heartbreaking possibility of losing these precious green lungs forever. Will you stand with us to protect and preserve the forest we are fortunate to call our own? Your support is crucial in preventing further damage. Click here to donate.
Decision-maker:
Shri. Praveen N.R. - Chief Conservator of Forests (Pune).
Shri. Sudhir Mungantiwar - Maharashtra Govt Minister of Forest, Cultural Affairs and Fisheries
Demands
Immediate allocation of additional resources, including manpower and firefighting equipment, to the Pune Forest Department to effectively manage and prevent forest fires.
Create, maintain, and monitor scientifically advised fire lines within the forests and put out reports of this work in the public domain.
Release a timeline for the constitution of the 24 camps and the observers responsible for the protection of the forest.
Regularly engaging with farmers around the forests to build awareness around stubble burning and its impacts on forest fires.
What’s the issue
Pune witnessed 37 forest fires during 2023. However, within the first three months of 2024, Pune has alarmingly reported 22 incidents of forest fires, with at least 7 of them being in the Sinhagad Forest Area. The Sinhagad forest is spread over a sprawling 3000 acres of land. Normally these fires are associated with the summer months, yet they have begun earlier this year, which is a truly concerning fact. By March 11, 2024 alone, two hectares of forest land had been ravaged by fires.
The fires have snatched significant areas of forest land, posing a threat to the environment, its wildlife, and the local communities, striving to protect it. While the temperatures are rising and contributing to the increasing forest fires, another alarming trend has emerged; that of the winter getting shorter and less cold.
Controlling the blaze has been a challenging task due to inadequate manpower and lack of resources in the forest department. Pune’s forest department has made promises of more firefighting equipment, including mechanized blowers being deployed and collaborative efforts on the part of local communities and the authorities to tackle the issue.
However, this is not enough. We need to see the implementation of the initiatives being announced. Urgent action is needed to ensure additional resources are allocated to deal with the problem, else we risk losing our Sinhagad forest forever.
The situation is extremely time-sensitive considering the early onset of what is predicted to be a scorching summer (slated to be a record-breaking warm year). While the authorities have made announcements, we need to demand implementation and accountability in order to ensure our forests are not destroyed forever!
Sources
P.S. Pune’s forests hold a special place in our hearts—they’re more than just trees and wildlife; it's an emotion. However, with the increasing occurrences of forest fires, we face the heartbreaking possibility of losing these precious green lungs forever. Will you stand with us to protect and preserve the forest we are fortunate to call our own? Your support is crucial in preventing further damage. Click here to donate.