Bhubaneswar, April 27: With temperature soaring high, forest fire incidents are on the rise. Odisha’s approximately 52,156 square kilometres of forest area accounts for over 33% of the states’ total geographical area, according to the 2021 assessment by the Forest Survey of India.
As per data published by the Forest Dept., Govt. of Odisha, there have been 19,892 forest fires recorded in Odisha in the current season, during January -April 25, 2025.
Keeping in view the devastating nature of forest fires on the environment and wildlife, Reliance Foundation has collaborated with the Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department, Govt. of Odisha, community cadres, Vana Suraksha Samitis (VSSs) and NGO partners to create awareness and capacity building for effectively preventing forest fire in the state.
As part of this initiative, a three-month long awareness campaign has been initiated from the World Wildlife Day on 8th March, which will run till World Environment Day on 5th June 2025. Reliance Foundation, in association with the Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department and NGO PRADAN, is engaging community cadres through field level activities and a series of multi-location audio conferences on forest fire mitigation awareness, focussing on major forest fire vulnerable areas, different preparedness, response, and mitigation strategy for forest fire management and role of community in forest fire mitigation. Fortnightly multi location audio conferences are being conducted, connecting the Forest Department officials with community cadre from multiple locations to discuss and take necessary measures on mitigation of forest fire. Advisories in vernacular language are being disseminated in the districts of Rayagada, Mayurbhanj, Kandhamal and Kalahandi. The aspects covered include natural and anthropogenic causes of forest fire, local /global impact of forest fire, role of communities, and synergy between Forest Department, civil society organizations and NGOs in forest fire management and initiatives from Forest Department in forest fire response and mitigation.
The campaign aims to increase community preparedness on fire risk, improved response and mitigation measures. Through increased stakeholder collaboration by means of engaging local community and Govt. Department in fire mitigation efforts, it is working towards reducing human caused forest fire incidence. Along with Reliance Foundation resource persons, Dr. Umashankar Nayak, Joint Director, Research, OUAT and Swetaleena Sahu, ACF, Phulbani, Department of Forest, Environment and Climate Change, Govt. of Odisha, are extending technical support in this campaign.
As part of several field level programmes for forest fire risk mitigation and management, a day long session was held on 26th April 2025, with the Saralia Eco-Development Committee (EDC) and local youth volunteers, in Balasore. The Saralia local communities are protecting 164 hectares of village forest under Oupada forest Range, Balasore. Impact of forest fire on overall ecosystem, public health, measure causes of forest fire like hunting and wild honey harvesting, clearing Mahua tree base, burning of kendu plant base, irresponsible disposal of semi burnt wood after picnic and other community cooking were discussed in this session. Community cadres were explained the principles of community-based forest fire management, different preparedness, response and mitigation of forest fire hazard with various steps like development of physical and vegetative forest line, timely removal of dried and dead tree branches and trees, periodic removal of fallen leaves, and drawing temporary forest line.
