Dedicated Satellite Proposed for Monitoring Himalayan Forest Fires
Why in News?
A Parliamentary Standing Committee has recommended the deployment of a dedicated geostationary satellite for round the clock monitoring and early detection of forest fires in the Himalayan region.
Key Highlights
- The Committee identified gaps in real time monitoring, early warning and forest fire management, particularly across the Himalayan ecosystem.
- A dedicated geostationary satellite has been proposed for continuous observation, reducing dependence on polar-orbiting satellites that provide periodic coverage.
- Western Himalayan fires are largely associated with extreme heat, dry conditions, accumulation of pine needles and human activities.
- Fire dynamics in the Eastern Himalayas differ due to factors such as higher atmospheric moisture and cultivation practices.
- The Committee also recommended a National Pine Needle Utilisation Policy, stronger local fire-response mechanisms and a review of existing legal provisions related to forest-fire management.
Key Facts
- Geostationary Satellite: Orbits about 35,786 km above the equator and continuously monitors the same geographical region.
- Polar-Orbiting Satellite: Operates in Low Earth Orbit and can provide higher-resolution imagery, but coverage of a particular location is periodic.
- India currently receives satellite-based forest-fire alerts using data from SNPP-VIIRS and NOAA satellites.
- The Forest Survey of India (FSI), under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, monitors forest fires across the country.
Way Forward
India needs to strengthen satellite-based early-warning systems, incorporate AI-driven fire prediction, enhance community participation and adopt region-specific fire-management strategies to effectively reduce forest-fire risks in the Himalayas.