Increasing Incidences of Forest Fire in Sikkim, India

Forest fire is a perennial phenomenon in the state of Sikkim, India. The state has been hit by 1050 forest fires in the last 22 years (2000–2022) damaging about 7932.42 hectares of forest land. It has led to enormous loss of property, biodiversity, human casualties and deaths in the forest and non-forest areas of Sikkim. The authority has registered a property loss of Rs. 2661.23 lakhs and a loss of 208 lives in the last 23 years (1984–2007). The state has been successful in saving a valuable property of Rs. 10,120.57 lakhs. The incidence of forest fires is maximum during January, February, March, April, May, October, November and December. Forest and non-forest areas are mostly hit by ground, ground bush, surface, and crown fires. The analogue data of forest fires between 2000–2022 confirmed that maximum forest fire incidence in Sikkim is confined to the lower hills (300–880 m) and mid-hills (881–1500 m). The tree species such as Uttis (Alnus nepalensis), Malato (Macaranga pustulata), Guay Champ (Michelia velutina), Panisaj (Terminalia myriocarpa), Saur (Betula alnoides), Arupatey (Prunus bracteopadus), Kaijal (Bischofia javanica),Lampatey (Duabanga grandiflora), Teak (Tectona grandis), Sal (Shorea robusta), Simal (Bombax ceiba), Dhalney Katus (Castanopsis indica), Kafal (Myrica esculenta), Jhinganey (Eurya acuminate), Kharaney (Symplocos theifolia), Angeri (Lyonia ovalifolia), Taki (Bauhinia purpurea), Siris (Albizia lebbeck), Chilaune (Schima wallichi), Sindurey (Mallotus philippensis), Angeri (Lyonia ovalifolia), Chewri (Diploknema butyracea), Arupatey (Prunus nepalensis), Silveroak, Silver fir, Junifer, Mauha (Engelhardita spicata), Arupatey (Prunus nepalensis) bamboos, salimbo, ground bushes, bamboo plantation etc. have been severally affected by the increasing incidences of forest fires. However, a few incidences of forest fires have been reported from the temperate and alpine eco-belts of Teesta owing to its geographic location, sun-facing and non-facing slopes (aspect) and climatic characteristics. In fact, the incidences of forest fires are comparatively high outside the protected area networks of Sikkim. The increasing incidences of forest fire is ascribed to increased temperature, decreased annual and winter rainfall, negligence, droughts in winter owing to decreased rainfall and increasing proximity of human settlements to forest areas etc.