Wild fires and causes- role of humans - role of climate change (Prelims, Mains GS1, GS3)
Wild Fires and Causes
Forest Fires
- Also called bush or vegetation fire or wildfire
- It can be defined as any uncontrolled and unprescribed combustion or burning of plants in a natural setting such as a forest, grassland or brush land, which consumes natural fuels and spreads based on environmental conditions such as wind, and topography.
- Human-caused forest fires can be sparked by land clearing, extreme drought, or, in rare cases like lightning.
- A wildfire must have three conditions in order to burn: fuel, oxygen, and a heat source.
- Forest fires are highly risky in the northeast and central India regions.
- Forest fires have been identified as being 'extremely prone' in Assam, Mizoram, and Tripura.
- Andhra Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Maharashtra, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh are among the states with large forest areas classified as "very highly prone."
- Forest fires can be caused by a variety of natural factors, but human activities are the primary cause of many major fires in India.
- New research links climate change to an increase in fires around the world, particularly the massive fires in the Amazon forests of Brazil and Australia in the last two years.
- Longer-lasting fires, fires of greater intensity, fires that occur more frequently, and fires that are highly flammable are all linked to climate change.
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