Fire continues to destroy forest

As much as Bhutan boasts of its forest cover, so much threat is posed by fire to destroy it.

In the last three years alone, more than 31,132 acres of forest were lost to fire (see box story), according to the data collected by the Forest Fire Management Section (FFMS) of the agriculture ministry.

Statistics available with the forest department show that between 1993 and 2005, 128,368 hectares of pristine forest were destroyed by fire.

The good news is that the incidents of forest fires and the extent of damage destroyed have gone down over the past three years.

Kinley Tshering, an official from FFMS, said the dry season has got longer, which increased the risk of forest fire.

He said the causes of forest fire are man-made – burning debris, children playing with match sticks. Some of the people usually involved in forest fire are cow herders, lemon grass harvesters, and road workers.

Short circuit of electricity transmission lines is also one of the common causes of forest fire.

Kinley Tshering says the only precaution FFMS can take is to create awareness among the people. This, he said, has been done many times and is being done.

People say that forests are set on fire as culprits are not punished enough. If one is caught for causing a forest fire, a penalty of Nu 300 to Nu 1,000 is imposed for every hactare destroyed, said Kinley Tshering.

However, Bhutan Forest Act 1969 states that a person [culprit of forest fire] may be punishable with imprisonment in addition to the damage done to forest.

The Forest and Nature Conservation Act of Bhutan 1995 prohibits setting of fire, except controlled campfires. The act states that one should not leave any fire, including a campfire, burning in such a manner that might destroy trees and any forest produce or wildlife.

Any violation of the act is an offence punishable with imprisonment that may extend to five years or a fine prescribed in the rules issued from time to time, or both.

Meanwhile, Kinley Tshering said rules governing forest fire will be in place soon.

By Tandin Pem