Photo: Students of FOF 7th batch in Sundar Community Forest
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
I would like to thank our teacher Miss
Rubi Shah, who taught us Fire ecology in 5th semester, provided us a
great opportunity to visit one of the Nepal’s best CF that is contributing for
forest fire management and spreading awareness about appropriate utilization of forest fire management tools. I would
like to thank respected CF members who have provided us knowledge about their
experiences in forest fire management activities.
Also,
I would like to thank colleagues and others who cooperated nicely during the
one day visit to Sundar CF.
INTRODUCTION:
Forest Fire is an uncontrolled outbreak
of fire in vegetation’s like grass, weeds, grain fields, brush, chaparral,
tundra, and forest and woodland. To spread it needs suitable environment which
include fire triangle (fuel, heat and oxygen) and fire environment (fuel,
weather and topography) that plays an important role and it becomes hazardous
if it takes the phase of fully developed in the natural environment.
Since 2007, Community Based Fire Management (CBFiM) is one of
the strategy that have been used in Nepal.
Nepal is rich in natural resources.
So, for management of natural resources in Nepal, Various institutions have
engaged to implement the fire management activities. Community based forest
management system in Nepal is playing a great role for management of forest
fire in Nepal since 1989. As known from several research papers there are
around 30000+ CBFM user group in Nepal supported by Government of Nepal,
Department of forest and Divisional forest office.
Sundar Community forest User Group
One of the best CBFM in Nepal,
Sundar Community Forest User Group, is situated at Hetauda, Makwanpur. It was
established in 2052 Ashadh 31 from Government of Nepal. Area of CF is 112.21 ha
and this is divided into 5 blocks. Every block has been distributed to the user
groups around that block area for effective management of CF. 5 peoples of CF
have been financially and technically supported by Germany have also provided
fire management instruments to the people for their safe work to manage
uncontrolled forest fire.
OBJECTIVE
Our one day visit to Sundar community forest have following
objective:
1 - To know the answers of various questions
2 - To learn how community people are engaged for
management of forest fire in Nepal.
3 - To know about the proper utilization of forest fire
management tools.
4 - To know the contribution of people in biodiversity
conservation.
METHODOLOGY
We were informed by notice to
gather at college at sharp 7 AM on 2079/03/11,
following day we gathered at forestry golpark and traveled to Sundar CF by bus
provided by our university. Chairman of that CF Mr. Khem bahadur rana along
with committee members had heartly welcomed us. We had prepared questionnaires
to make our learning effective about the Forest fire management activities in
Sundar CF.
We took a cup of tea with biscuit and then our session started. We were given a lot of information by past chairman of the CF Mr. Kedar Prasad Bartaula. We had questionnaires to ask committee members of CF about CBFiM activities.
Question with their answers as given by Sundar CF user group
1 1. What type of forest and common species exist in this forest?
--- Sal forest and common species are Chilaune, Bot dhayero, Siris, etc.
2. 2. What type of forest fire commonly occurs in this area?
ü Surface, ground and crown fire usually occurs in season.
3 3. Which month do mainly fire occur?
ü Chaitra month
4 4. What are the main causes of fire?
ü Cigarette,
electric wire, friction between trees
5. 5. Who is mainly responsible for forest fire?
ü Local peoples around forest area
6. 6. How does CF manage forest fire?
ü By proper utilization of forest fire management tools
ü Siren is adjusted for timely response of fire breakout
ü Messaging notice to Divisional forest office
7. 7. What are the management techniques be applied for fire
management?
ü Fire line, Fire management tools and techniques
8. 8. How users group participate in fire management?
ü Per person per household must participate during fire management
activities recruitment for fire line
9 9. What kinds of assistantship provided by the Government in fire
control?
ü Training on
fire management activities
ü Adding up
skilled manpower for management of uncontrolled fire
1 10. What are
the punishment provision for people who ignite the fire?
ü 3 years prison or Rs. 60,000 payout or both punishment(Forest
Act,2076)
11.
Is there
any incidence reported in human wildlife casualties after fire?
ü Killing
porcupines using fire, monkey attack to farm crops
12.
Which year
considered as the worst year in the eyes of forest fire?
ü 2064 B.S.
13.
What is the
maximum range of the burnt area due to forest fire?
ü 70-90 ha
14.
What are
future management plans should be applied for fire management?
ü Spreading
awareness to new coming generations
15.
What are
the changes seen in Forest fire after the handover of Government
managed forest to CFUG as Community forest?
- Forest fires are well managed than that by government
16. What is the status of Fire response system by the CFUG?
-Good , as people make out siren and message is sent to DFO for immediate response
17.
How often
fire line is cleared?
- Every Year
on 3rd week of Falgun
18.
Is there
any compensation scheme for the fire hazard victims or who lost
their life during fire operation?
ü Yes, people
had prepare insurance saving Rs. 50 every month by 10 community forest around
their area
19.
What are
the challenges faced to manage and control forest fire?
ü Some people
have died and some people have suffered during management and control of forest
fire
The session started from 7 to 11:30 am. Past chairman of CF have
provided us a lot information about CF and tools that are used in CF for
management of uncontrolled fire.
News published by Hetauda Sandesh in 10 oct, 2007
[ UNISDR-Regional
South Asia Wildland Fire Network had provided community-based fire management
(CBFiM) training programme for the user group members of Sundar Community
Forest situated at Chaukitole (Hetauda-2) in Makawanpur district. Mr. Daniel Kraus from the Global Fire Monitoring
Center (GFMC) from Germany had provided the technical and financial support
including Mr. Sundar Prasad Sharma from the regional network.
According
to the past chairman of this user group have told us that 24 people including
12 women’s were provided training. Fire tools and instruments were introduced
to people for safe fire management in community forest.]
THANK YOU
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