State’s pine forests under threat from summer blazes

With the onset of summer, forest fires are increasingly being reported from the lower hills of Himachal Pradesh, especially in pine forests of Palampur, Dehra Gopipur and Nurpur divisions. These areas become highly vulnerable to fires during this season.

The Forest Department faces major challenges in controlling the fires, primarily due to a lack of cooperation from locals designated as “bartandar” (forest users) by the state government. However, officials have managed to control most fires in the past two days.

Sources revealed that this year, the department could not undertake essential preventive measures like controlled burning and maintaining fire lines due to financial constraints. Of the total 1.50 lakh hectares of pine forests needing controlled burning, at least 50,000 hectares require attention each year.

To tackle the growing threat, awareness campaigns have been launched across all forest divisions, urging public and stakeholder participation in preventing fires. Control rooms equipped with wireless systems and mobile phones have been established, and firefighting units are active in sensitive areas under senior officials’’ supervision.

Forests across the middle and lower hills of Kangra, Mandi, Hamirpur, Una, and Bilaspur districts remain particularly vulnerable between April and June.

Speaking to mediapersons on Thursday, Deputy Conservator of Forest Sanjeev Sharma said that fresh fire lines are being created. Authorities are maintaining strict vigilance over visitors to forests and clearing pine needles from high-risk areas. Sharma appealed to right-holders and villagers to actively participate in saving forests and spread awareness about fire prevention.

“A nationwide movement against forest fires is urgently needed. Forest departments must be strengthened for firefighting. Without villagers’’ participation, it is extremely difficult to protect our forests,” Sharma said, adding that many fires are deliberately set.

Forest fires not only destroy trees but also endanger wildlife, disturb water cycles, reduce soil fertility, and threaten the livelihoods of local communities. Authorities stress that with collective efforts, much of the devastation can be avoided.