Grant Amount: US$ 30,000

Keywords: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST FIRE, GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM, INDIA

Geographic coverage: India

Objective

The objective of this project is to develop a forest fire forecasting system using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing to help reduce the degradation and loss of biodiversity in Kerala State, India.

Research context

Western Ghats, a biodiversity hotspot and essential environmental resource for Kerala State, is under severe threat due to the recurrence of forest fires. Between 1991 and 2003, fires destroyed more than 25,000 hectares of forests in Kerala. This project aims to develop an effective method for forest fire forecasting by using GIS and Remote Sensing to create a forest fire hazard index. The system developed by this project can be used by the Forest Department to manage and conserve the fire prone areas more efficiently. The forecasting and prevention of forest fires also benefits the local communities residing in and around the forest whose livelihood depends on natural resources.

Target beneficiaries

The Forest Department can use the fire forecasting system to mange and conserve the fire prone areas more efficiently. This benefits local communities in the area, helps to reduce degradation and loss of biodiversity of the area, and contributes to the wise use of the mountains of Western Ghats.

Outputs

Forest Fire Risk Area Map of Southern Western Ghats;

Forest Fire Forecasting System;

Project report on forest fire, its causes, consequences and solutions;

Presentation of the Fire Forecasting System on the Centre for Environment and Development (CED) website (http://www.cedindia.org) that can be freely used by stakeholders;

A network of local organizations and people; and

Skill development of Forest Department personnel and local people.

Research results and outcomes

This project is still in process at the time of this report. However, the project has submitted two interim reports and is well on its way to completing its final results.

From the beginning, the project adopted a participatory and multi-disciplinary approach. The participatory approach of the project is considered crucial as local stakeholders such as forest department personnel and local people best know the cause and effect of forest fires. During the project implementation experts from the following organizations were consulted: Kerala Forests and Wildlife Department; College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara; Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, Thrissur; Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and Environment, Bangalore; Environmental Systems Research Institute, Bangalore; and the Department of Statistics, University College, Thiruvananthapuram.

The project’s multi-disciplinary approach employs a variety of research tools and techniques such as Participatory Resource Appraisal, remote sensing tools to provide data for vegetation maps, GIS for spatial data analysis, statistical techniques for development of the model, and programming tools like Visual Basic for developing the automated system.

Primary and secondary data was collected from ten protected areas (PAs) and used to develop a forest fire prone area prioritization model that combines information from a series of maps and tables. Vegetation maps were prepared using remote sensing data through Digital Image Processing. Staff further classified this information and the results were subsequently verified during field visits. Other thematic base maps were prepared from survey of India topographic sheets, including drainage, land use, contour, settlements, roads and trek paths. The different parameters that influence forest fires were identified and ranks (intra parameter) and weights (inter parameter) have been assigned for each parameter through knowledge-based and logistic regression approaches. These were used in the overlay analysis to generate fire risk area maps. The data was output in the form of maps (spatial) and tables (non-spatial) to create the fire forecasting system.

At present the team has designed the Forest Fire Forecasting System (SWG Fire Mapper 1.0), which takes into consideration a variety of parameters that effect the initiation and spread of wildfires. The weights and ranks need to be finalized and input into the SWG Fire Mapper 1.0 to get acceptable results for fire prediction maps of the PAs. The website of CED (http://www.cedindia.org) is proposed to be the platform for the web-based Fire Prediction System.

The project plans to hold a series of training, capacity building and awareness programmes. These include training programmes for Forest Department officials and decision makers and awareness programmes on the causes and spread of forest fires for local communities in selected areas.

Although this project is still underway, it has already developed a model for the prediction of forest fires. The approach can be adopted and replicated in other geographical areas with necessary modifications in the ranks and weights, based on the specific characteristics of the local area. The design, construction, deployment, data collection and data analysis is a pioneering effort and can be taken as a baseline study by other researchers.

Project Duration

Start Date: August 2004
End Date: August 2006
Total Duration: 25 Months

Contact information

Dr. Babu Ambat
Centre for Environment and Development
T.C. 9/2598, Elankom Gardens, Vellayambalam
Trivandrum, Kerala 695010, India
Telephone/Fax: +91 471 272 6793 / 6792
Email: ceddir@vsnl.com

Website
http://www.cedindia.org