Coordinated actions required

Photo Courtesy: Adole Kere

Photo Courtesy: Adole Kere

Morung Express News
Kohima | January  29

While there are no concrete solutions to prevent forest fires, the 2020-21 Dzükou fire which blazed for one of the longest durations in recent memory, calls for coordinated and proactive action in combating any forest fire in the future.

Neisato Neihu, from Kigwema village expressed that there are lessons and actions one must learn from this experience.

“Prevention will be key, we need to reinstitute the structured registration and enforce it again. Surveillance and monitoring during dry season must be done both in the valley as well as the surrounding forests. This is done in all national parks and natural reserves that are prone to fires across the world,” says Neihu.

Despite regulations and guidelines, the valley continues to witness violators. In this regard, Rajkumar M, Kohima Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) stresses on sensitising trekkers at the entry points. This is the need of the hour, he views. 

Avi Bio, a former caretaker at the Dzükou Valley rest house says that manmade fires that occur in Dzükou valley are usually not deliberate but an outcome of carelessness. “Nobody does it intentionally but it’s usually out of carelessness,” says Bio. Although prohibition of making bonfires in dry areas in the valley is maintained, Bio advises that visitors should not smoke while trekking in the valley and avoid carrying any flammable objects

“We need to create more awareness among villagers in general about forest fires. We need to train local youth professionally about forest fires since they are the first responders when it comes to community forests,” adds Rajkumar M. 

The DFO further stresses on the need for cutting and regular maintenance of fire lines in fire prone areas, and identifying water bodies nearby which come handy while fighting the fire.

While the onset of the dry season, the winds and inaccessible terrain made it difficult to mitigate the recent fire on time, many also call for strengthening coordination and response efforts. 

“It took us five whole days to actually see a semblance of a coordinated response,” rues Neihu expressing hope that there is better coordination from the stakeholders in future. “When a fire does happen, we need a standard operating procedure drawn out along with the Southern Angami villages,” maintains Neihu.