Kathmandu: The country is currently observing ‘forest fire awareness week’ from March 15 to 21, organizing programs focused on forest fire prevention and raising public awareness on disaster mitigation. During this period, the Department of Forests and Soil Conservation has released a report on forest fires.
According to National News Agency Nepal, the report highlights that satellite data over the past 13 years shows an increasing risk of forest fires in the country. The Department’s data records 13,622 forest fire incidents nationwide over the last 12 years, from 2070 to 2082 BS.
Forest fires have emerged as a significant environmental challenge. The report indicates that forest fires in Nepal are primarily seasonal, with approximately 89 percent of incidents occurring between mid-February and mid-April.
The report attributes the heightened risk of forest fires to factors such as prolonged dry spells, low humidity, high temperatures, strong winds, agricultural residue burning practices, and increased human activity in forest areas.
It has been noted that about 57.7 percent of total incidents in the month of Baisakh were forest fires. The year 2016 was recorded as the most severe for forest fires, with a significant number of incidents also recorded in 2021 and 2024.
According to the Department’s analytical report, a minimum of 282 fire incidents were recorded across the country from 1st Baisakh to 29th Falgun 2082 BS. While forest fires spread across all seven provinces during this period, Sudurpaschim Province was the most affected, accounting for 33.3 percent of the total incidents.
Province-wise statistics show that Bagmati recorded 19.1, Karnali 16.7, Gandaki 9.6, Lumbini 8.9, Koshi 8.2, and Madhesh 4.3 percent of wildfire incidents. Kanchanpur emerged as the most affected district, with 41 recorded fire incidents, followed by Chitwan with 27, Kailali with 19, and Surkhet with 18 incidents.
Dhirendra Kumar Pradhan, Director General of the Department of Forests and Soil Conservation, stated that effective control of the increasing wildfire risk requires coordination among federal, provincial, and local bodies, community forest user groups, security agencies, the private sector, media, and local communities.
Spatial analysis identifies the Tarai-Chure and Mid-Hills regions as highly sensitive to wildfire risks, with the Tarai-Chure region in Sudurpaschim, the Chitwan-Makwanpur forest area, forests around Surkhet, and the Bardiya-Banke Tarai region identified as major hotspots.
Kamala Oli Siwakoti, a member of the President Chure Tarai-Madhesh Conservation Committee, pointed out that accumulated biomass in the Chure region, prolonged drought, low humidity, and human activities are major contributors to the increasing incidence of forest fires.
Most forest areas in Nepal are managed under the community forestry model. Thus, the roles of local communities and forest user groups are crucial in controlling and mitigating forest fires.
Thakur Prasad Bhandari, Chair of the Federation of Community Forestry Users’ Nepal (FECOFUN), emphasized that preparedness and broader public awareness are essential for controlling and preventing wildfires. Effective control of forest fires is not possible without proper fuel management, early warning systems, and active community participation.
Rakesh Karna, Chair of the Nepal Foresters’ Association, highlighted the need for effective forest management to control and prevent wildfires. He noted that where forests are well-managed, the incidence of fires is relatively low. He also mentioned that forest management serves as a means of job creation and income generation at the local level, although it has yet to be prioritized by the state.