Wildfires taking toll in Mahottari

Wildfires that occurred in Mahottari district almost on a regular basis have taken its toll on every section of lives. Wildlife and birds in particular have been affected. As a result, the mobility of wild animals and birds has been restricted, said local people.

The mobility of peacocks in Newardanda, Kamidanda, Panikholsi and Ratamata community forests, around 500 metres from Bardibas Chowk in Bardibas Municipality has been rare nowadays, said a local resident, Binod Khadka.

"Peacocks would be spotted everywhere. We could hear chirpings of birds everywhere. But, these things are rare these days," he said. Similarly, wild animals like rabbits, porcupines, foxes and jackals have disappeared, he lamented.

Forest fires have been engulfing the Newardanda, Kamidanda and Ratamata forests for three days. Many wild animals and birds have been killed in the natural disaster and some others have fled, said ward chair of Bardibas-3 Birat Bista. Medicinal herbs worth thousands of rupees have also been destroyed, he said.

The wildfires are sweeping through adjoining human settlements too, thus creating havoc among the villagers. "Just two days ago, the house of one Suresh Basnet at the head of the forest caught fire. Many people from the adjoining settlements have been in constant fear of a fire," he said.

The East West Highway in Mahottari covers an area of 18 kilometres stretching from Ratu bridge in the east to Banke bridge in the west. Some 15 kilometres of the area is characterised by forest areas on its two sides. Now the cases of wildfires are common and skeletal remains of the forest can be seen.

However, forest employees said a lack of required number of human resources has posed a challenge to depute a team to patrol the forest and intervene in the possible incidents of fires. "The available workforce is doing its best to keep forest safe, when it patrols an area, the other side reports the fire, making us run from here to there," said an employee of the Banke Sub Division Forest Office, adding that combined efforts were necessary to avert forest fire.

Despite the implementation of public awareness programmes against forest fires each year, the problem is perennial.

Forest employees blame the major role of farmers and herders in the rising incidents of wildfires. Farmers and herders are accused of promoting the case of wildfires with the belief that it will cause re-growth of plants and increased vegetation.

In some cases, the friction when trees rub against each other during winds causes spark. But such cases are sporadic, according to Ganata Sub Division Forest Office's assistant forest officer Ram Sundar Shah.

Discarding burning cigarette butts is one of the major causes of wildlife in Nepal.

Experts said public role is vital to minimise incidents of forest fire. Participation of the community is needed in efforts against forest fire.

 District's forest area: national forest, community forest, religious forest and the Sagarnath forest development project covers over 2400 hectares of land. But forest employees admit that the forest area is becoming thinner due to human encroachment and wildfires.