Hunsur: Conservator of Forests  and Director of Nagarahole National Park K.M. Narayanswamy said that conservation of forests, protection of flora and fauna, biodiversity are also the responsibility of people.

Speaking at the one-day workshop on prevention of forest fires at Veeranahosalli in the taluk recently, he said there are various causes for forest fires and one of the main reason identified by the department was the involvement of human beings in setting fire in the forest which has become a challenge to deal with them.

As forest fire is a regular occurrence in summer season, the department has taken all precautionary measures to tackle forest fire by deployment of additional staff in the fire lines, improving thick vegetation for protection of plants and wildlife in the forest.   

He said, Nagarahole Forest is spread over 64,000 hectares. Forest fires was reported in 17 hectares of land in 2018 and 110 hectares of land in 2017 which resulted in the  death of hundreds of mammals, birds and reptiles and destruction of plants.

However, the department has taken all measures by  increasing the number of fire fighters as well as equipping them with drinking water bottles, back-up supplies of food and water, proper shoes or boots, rakes, spades and other implements, light, rechargeable torches etc.   The department has also deployed adequate watch tower staff, vehicles, fire fighting vehicles, fire watchers and other supporting staff as part of fighting fires and mitigating damages.

Speaking on the occasion, Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF) Prasanna Kumar said that it could be difficult for the government to compensate the loss caused by forest fires. The Government has also taken measures for conservation of forest by increasing manpower to deal with such situations besides necessary infrastructure, equipment and training for the staff.

It also taken up awareness programmes like educating tourists not to smoke, villages and temples in forest fringes to avoid using fire to light candles, lamps as chances of catching fire is more in the forest areas.

ACF Paul Antony, Range Forest Officer (RFO) Ravindra, Shantha Kumaraswamy, Amithgowda, Forest Guards, Forest Watchers and various school children were present.