Drought And Wildfires

Nepal recorded less than normal rainfall in the past three months, experiencing a long spell of drought along with rising temperatures. Such a situation is posing a threat to the spread of wildfires in different parts of the country. The nation witnessed a light rainfall on February 27, providing some respite to the people, especially farmers. But that was rarely sufficient for keeping the soil moisture for a while. What was more worrying is the fact that the central and eastern Terai districts did not see any rainfall. Though these districts possess a lot of arable land, the lingering drought has badly affected the winter crops. Records maintained by the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) show that the nation received just 19.9 per cent precipitations in winter this year. When the rainfall is less than 75 per cent, this situation is considered as drought. Weather gauge stations based in Bhairahawa, Dang, Simara, Janakpur, Dharan, Dhankuta and Biratnagar have recorded no rainfall. 

Data collected from 20 main weather stations across the country indicated that the country got 12.9 mm of precipitation during the period. Meteorologists say that about 60.5 mm of precipitation is normal in winter. The pre-monsoon season has started in the country since the onset of March. It lasts until the end of May. Different international organisations such as the World Meteorological Organisations and the European Centre have predicted less than average rainfall even during this year’s pre-monsoon period. If the current spell of drought continues in the pre-monsoon as well, Nepal may face increase in wildfires, drying up of water sources, and a startling rise in the level of air pollution. Climate change specialists have also predicted that the upcoming spring might be drier than average. It appears that the existing drought has already begun taking its toll on hydropower generation and rain-fed agriculture. To manage drinking water, it is essential for people to surge their investment in ponds, wells and other sources of water so as to cope with possible water crisis. Such a measure may assist them in tackling calamities like forest fires. 

Many parts of the country are always at high risk of wildfires despite some efforts being made by local administration. Since the spring season mostly remains drier than other months of the year, forest fires are commonly found breaking out in numerous areas, especially the Terai and hilly belts. A number of human settlements are vulnerable to forest fire disasters. Some incidents associated with the outbreak of fire were lately recorded in some districts like Tehrathum and Sarlahi. A research has shown that Nepal had reported devastating wildfires in spring 2021 when active fires were found 10 times more than the 2002–2020 average. Rainfalls below average were responsible for those destructive forest fires. Nations are witnessing more extreme weather events in recent decades which scientists ascribe to temperature rise and climate change. 

Looking at the ongoing pattern of drought, meteorologists have forecast that Nepal may witness almost the same situation of wildfires the nation had gone through in 2021. It needs no mention that forest fires in Nepal and other South Asian nations are mostly human-induced. Occasionally, such disasters occur by mistake and sometimes intentionally to prepare land for shifting cultivation. Farmers are often found burning bushes for the regrowth of grasses and collection of minor forest products. But the situation may often go out of control when the fire enters human settlements. As most of wildfires are reported in hot and dry season, which lasts from March to May, everyone must remain alert on potential fire disasters.