Uttarakhand's luscious green forests are currently facing the threat of extinction, along with their rich and diverse biodiversity, due to uncontrollable forest fires.

These fires have been destroying the greenwood and posing a threat to the local communities for over a week now. Several innocent lives have become victims of the fires, and the number is increasing.

Impact on the locals and the climate 

As per reports, the fire has destroyed over 1,107 hectares of forest till now. The carbon emissions from the fires are affecting the water and air quality of the region, resulting in increased temperatures and extreme heat. If the trend continues, scientists believe that it might escalate the melting of glaciers and destroy the region's ecosystem. 

What is the government doing 

The state government has issued several laws and initiatives towards the crisis. To get the situation under control, 12,000 forest officials have been deployed and 1,300 fire stations have been built to control the wild forest fires. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has issued instructions to all District Magistrates to keep a strict eye on the fires and has banned the burning of fodder or any type of waste near the forest areas. 

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has also been summoned to aid in the fight against the fires. The state officials are also planning to utilize cloud seeding technology to combat the fires starting from the Pauri region of Uttarakhand. 

Locals' roles in the firefighting 

Locals can help firefighters by spreading awareness and informing communities about the dangers of the fire and how to prevent it. They can be the early detectors of the fire and help the firefighters control the fire and stop it from spreading. It is important to learn about activities that can cause fire and avoid them, such as burning waste near forest areas, throwing cigarette buds, or being careless about campfires. 

The state is currently dealing with the aftermath of climate change and careless human behavior. The local communities and the state government have to join hands to protect the state's divine mountains and its legacy before it is too late. 

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