Early detection of forest fires critical for protecting biodiversity-rich habitats: study

A recent study by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) India’s Tech for Conservation initiative, in partnership with Microsoft, warned that early detection of forest fires in ecologically sensitive areas is critical for protecting biodiversity-rich habitats, including those supporting species such as the Nilgiri Tahr.

The study revealed that 6,465 fire points were recorded in the hilly district of Idukki over the 13 years from 2012 to 2025. The analysis of satellite-derived fire occurrences indicates a substantial concentration of fire activity across the Western Ghats landscape.

According to the study, 6,308 of these incidents were identified as forest fire points within forested areas. The temporal analysis further shows that fires in Idukki are strongly seasonal, with the majority of incidents occurring during the January–April dry season; this period accounted for 6,089 forest fire points during the study duration.

“The spatial distribution of these fire incidences shows widespread occurrence across the district, particularly in the high-elevation forested regions and grassland–forest mosaics associated with the Devikulam, Udumbanchola, Idukki, and Peerumade sub-districts,” the report noted.

The study further highlighted the Munnar region as a landscape where seasonal fires are common.

January–April last year

“The forest fire assessment for 2025 highlights the continuation of this seasonal pattern. Last year, the district recorded 538 fire points, 525 of which were within forested landscapes. Notably, 517 of these occurred during the January–April period, reinforcing the strong influence of the pre-monsoon dry season” said the study.

The study further noted that “Hotspot analysis revealed the presence of new, sporadic, and oscillating hotspots across the district. These are primarily concentrated in the northern and central high-range areas, suggesting recurring fire activity influenced by vegetation, terrain, climate, and anthropogenic (human-induced) pressures along forest boundaries.

The technology-driven management project, led by G. Areendran and his team, leverages advanced geospatial and artificial intelligence techniques to predict fire-prone areas. The study spanned five States — Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, and Karnataka — selected for their ecological significance. A GIS-based analytical framework was developed using 13 years of datasets, integrating topographic, climatic, and anthropogenic factors.

Munnar Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Sibin NT stated that a workshop was held in Munnar to discuss the findings with forest department representatives. “The Forest department is already implementing fire prevention projects, and based on this study, we will add more. Another important factor in Idukki is that most forest fires are man-made,” the official said.

A senior forest department official added that grasslands are the primary forest type in the Munnar landscape and that fires destroy vital food sources for wildlife. “Grasslands are the major food source for wild elephants and other animals. When these are destroyed, animals venture into human habitations searching for food. Timely prevention of forest fires will be helpful in avoiding human-animal conflict in Munnar,” the official said.