%0 Journal Article
%T Mapping and Inventory of Forest Fires in Andhra Pradesh, India: Current Status and Conservation Needs
%A C. Sudhakar Reddy
%A P. Hari Krishna
%A K. Anitha
%A Shijo Joseph
%J ISRN Forestry
%D 2012
%R 10.5402/2012/380412
%X Analyzing the spatial extent and distribution of forest fires is essential for sustainable forest management. The present study appraises the distribution of forest fires in one of the largest states in India, Andhra Pradesh, using satellite remote sensing. Advanced Wide Field Sensor (AWiFS) onboard on Indian Remote Sensing Satellite (IRS P6) was used for mapping and analyzing the spatial extent of burnt areas. Comparative analysis was carried out with respect to different forest types, protected areas and across elevation zones to demarcate and identify the fire-affected areas. The results show that about 19% (8594£¿km2) of forest area were burnt in the state during 2009. Burnt area statistics for Protected Areas reveal that 24% of forest cover was affected by fire. Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve, the largest tiger reserve of the country, shows an area of 793£¿km2 (22%) under forest fire. Higher elevation areas which are predominantly dominated by savannah and woodlands experienced higher fire occurrence in comparison with lower elevation areas. Similarly, fires were prevalent near edges compared to core forest. Results of the study suggested that forests of Andhra Pradesh are prone to high fire occurrences and current fire regime poses a severe conservation threat to biodiversity both within and outside the Protected Areas. 1. Introduction Fires affect the species composition, structure, pattern of vegetation, biomass, and consequently cause significant damage to the tropical forests [1, 2]. Globally, more than 350 million ha of forests were burned in 2000, an area of nearly equal to the size of India [3]. In many tropical deciduous ecosystems, fire is part of the natural regeneration process, stimulating the germination of certain species (Teak) and clearing space for the invasion [4]. Increased burn frequencies can therefore progressively weed out more fire-vulnerable components of biodiversity. Frequent fires may cause mortality of smaller trees, opening up the canopy and leading to the gradual conversion of once-closed forests to woodland savannahs with low tree density and a grassy understory [5]. In India, large areas of tropical dry forests have already been converted to grasslands or other land use as a result of fire and other practices [6, 7]. According to the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, 3.73£¿Mha of forests are affected by fires annually in India [8]. The extent of these fires depends on various factors such as the frequency of human disturbances and the climate of the region [9]. Forest dependent
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/isrn.forestry/2012/380412/