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Simlipal forest fire
Why is it in News?
- Simplipal forest witnessed fire in February and brought under control after weeks.
Details:
- Simlipal Biosphere reserve:
(1) Similipal derives its name from ‘Simul’ (silk cotton) tree.
(2) It is a national park and a tiger reserve situated in the northern part of Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district.
(3) Similipal and the adjoining areaswas declared a biosphere reserve by the Government of India on June 22, 1994.
(4) It is of area 5,569 sq km.
(5) It lies in the eastern end of the eastern ghat.
(6) Sal is a dominant tree species.
- Fire in Simplipal Forest:
(1) With the onset of summers and towards the end of autumn, the forest area remains vulnerable to forest fires.
(2) They are a recurrent annual phenomenon.
(3) They also brought under control due to short rainfall in January and February.
(4) It coincides with the shedding of deciduous forests in the forest areas and the fallen leaves are more vulnerable to catching fire.
- Causes of fire:
(1) Natural causes such as lighting or even soaring temperatures
(2) Fires set by poachers to divert the wild animals
(3) fire by villagers to clear the dry leaves on the ground for easy collection of mahua flowers
Source: Indian Express