(1) Forest Fire

8/6/2019 (1) Forest Fire

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IntroductionIntroductionFire is an important tool in the management and manipulation ofFire is an important tool in the management and manipulation ofsoils in the tropicssoils in the tropicsSince thousands of years ago, fire was used by farmers toSince thousands of years ago, fire was used by farmers totransform forest lands into agricultural landstransform forest lands into agricultural landsFire is used in shifting agriculture, land transformation, habitatFire is used in shifting agriculture, land transformation, habitatmanagement, site clearing, debris clearingmanagement, site clearing, debris clearing


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F ire in AgricultureF ire in AgricultureI nI n modernmodern agricultureagriculture firefire isis bothboth aa menacemenace andand aa tooltool ofof workwork..

WhenWhen oldold rubberrubber andand oiloil palmpalm treestrees areare fellfell toto givegive wayway totonewnew cropscrops cutcut--overover trunkstrunks andand limbslimbs areare stackedstacked andand burntburnt toto

facilitatefacilitate replantingreplanting.. BurningBurning helpshelps thethe farmersfarmers andand plantersplanterstoto eradicateeradicate debrisdebris fastfastScarificationScarification ofof legumelegume seedsseeds underunder thethe soilsoil surfacesurface totoenhanceenhance germinationgermination.. TheThe legumeslegumes seedseed germinategerminate atat thetheonsetonset ofof rainyrainy seasonseason toto provideprovide covercover forfor thethe young youngplantationplantation treestrees.. I nI n additionaddition thethe ashesashes helphelp toto provideprovidelimitedlimited nutrientsnutrients toto thethe soilsoil whilewhile atat samesame timetime addaddsubstancesubstance toto improveimprove soilsoil structurestructure. .


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I nI n sugarcanesugarcane plantationsplantations firefire helpshelps toto expediteexpedite harvestingharvesting..BeforeBefore thethe maturemature stemsstems areare harvested,harvested, thethe plantationplantation isis setsetablazeablaze soso thatthat drydry leavesleaves thatthat wouldwould interfereinterfere withwithharvestingharvesting areare removedremoved.. TheThe firefire alsoalso helpshelps toto eradicateeradicateherbaceousherbaceous weedsweeds fromfrom thethe plantationplantation.. SimilarlySimilarly burningburning isisdonedone inin thethe pineapplepineapple plantationplantation duringduring harvestharvest..


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I nI n paddypaddy fields,fields, burningburning isis donedone forfor twotwo reasonsreasons namelynamelyeradicationeradication ofof insectsinsects andand micromicro organismsorganisms thatthat bringbring diseasesdiseasestoto thethe cropcrop..

BurningBurning isis seenseen asas anan effectiveeffective meansmeans toto eradicateeradicate ricerice

blightsblights andand rustrust whichwhich cancan wipewipe outout padipadi cropcrop.. AsAs thethestubblesstubbles ofof lastlast cropcrop ofof ricerice wouldwould interfereinterfere withwith ploughing,ploughing,burningburning helpshelps toto interfereinterfere withwith ploughing,ploughing, burningburning helpshelps totoreducereduce ploughingploughing difficultydifficulty.. ButBut withwith thethe adventadvent ofof tractors,tractors,andand withwith ideaidea ofof minimumminimum tillagetillage toto returnreturn organicorganic mattermatter totothethe soil,soil, burningburning isis seenseen asas anan undesirableundesirable practicepractice inin ricericecultivationcultivation..


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G rassland Management G rassland Management PrimitivePrimitive pastoralistspastoralists practisepractise annualannual burningburning ofof theirtheir range,range,usuallyusually priorprior toto thethe beginningsbeginnings ofof thethe growinggrowing seasonseason..WhartonWharton ((19661966)) describesdescribes thethe rolerole ofof burningburning toto provideprovidebetterbetter pasturepasture forfor domesticdomestic cattlecattle inin NorthernNorthern CambodiaCambodia..FireFire isis usedused toto facilitatefacilitate huntinghunting byby burningburning talltall grassgrass whichwhichactact asas aa camouflagecamouflage forfor thethe animalsanimals..BurningBurning facilitatesfacilitates trackingtracking andand findingfinding stumpstump holesholes whichwhichconcealconceal smallsmall mammalsmammals andand reptilesreptiles..I nI n Nicaragua,Nicaragua, MisikitoMisikito I ndianI ndian burnedburned grassgrass inin thethe CaribbeanCaribbeanpinepine standsstands toto provideprovide freshfresh grassgrass forfor livestock,livestock, forfor huntinghuntingpurposespurposes andand toto removeremove pestspests suchsuch asas ticksticks andand snakessnakes(Munro,(Munro, 19661966))..


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F ire in ForestryF ire in ForestryThe main way to do site preparation for crop planting, pastureThe main way to do site preparation for crop planting, pastureimprovement and forest plantationimprovement and forest plantationI nstant nutrientI nstant nutrient

One advantage of using fire as compared to mechanicalOne advantage of using fire as compared to mechanical

methods is that the nutrient produced through burning canmethods is that the nutrient produced through burning canbe used by plants for initial growth where demand forbe used by plants for initial growth where demand fornutrient is highnutrient is high

Fuel reductionFuel reduction

Reduce the amount of fuel on forest groundReduce the amount of fuel on forest groundBurn litter, leaves and dead branchesBurn litter, leaves and dead branchesReduce the risk of big fires which cause mass destructionReduce the risk of big fires which cause mass destruction


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SilviculturalSilviculturalA tool in the management of forest plantationsA tool in the management of forest plantationsUsed in site preparation, plant regenerationUsed in site preparation, plant regenerationProduce tree of high qualityProduce tree of high quality


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Forest F ire in MalaysiaForest F ire in MalaysiaAA treattreat toto plantationplantation forestforest inin MalaysiaMalaysia

AA numbernumber ofof casescases hashas beenbeen reportedreported inin MalaysiaMalaysiaI nI n 66 years years ((19751975 19811981),), 4444 casescases werewere reportedreported whichwhich

involvesinvolves 316316 hectareshectares ofof pinepine plantationplantation.. FromFrom 19851985 19891989,,258258 hectareshectares werewere burntburnt inin BukitBukit TarikTarik PlantationPlantation ForestForest ininSelangorSelangor

SomeSome casescases werewere reportedreported onon naturalnatural forestsforestsI nI n JuneJune 19851985,, aa forestforest reservereserve waswas burntburnt inin Chalok,Chalok,TerengganuTerengganu involvinginvolving 1212 hectareshectares ofof landlandAreasAreas plantedplanted withwith AgathisAgathis borneensisborneensis waswas burntburnt bybyundergroundunderground firefire


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OnOn 22 OctoberOctober 19951995,, aa forestforest firefire occurredoccurred inin aa peatpeat swampswampforestforest inin BatangBatang Berjuntai,Berjuntai, SelangorSelangor

I nvolvingI nvolving 155155 hectareshectares ofof landland includingincluding 2525 hectareshectares ofof RajaRajaMusaMusa ForestForest ReserveReserveFireFire lastedlasted forfor 1414 daysdays

HughHugh mediamedia coveragecoverage duedue toto thethe publicpublic awarenessawareness onon thethedangerdanger ofof forestforest firefire heightenheighten

FireFire occurredoccurred inin rubberrubber andand palmpalm oiloil plantationplantation onon MeiMei 19861986 ininpeatpeat soilsoil areasareas inin SelangorSelangor DarulDarul EhsanEhsan andand JohoreJohore

I nvolvingI nvolving undergroundunderground firefireHardHard toto controlcontrolFireFire cancan burnburn fewfew metersmeters deepdeep undergroundunderground


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Forest fire happens more frequent in Sabah as compared toForest fire happens more frequent in Sabah as compared toPeninsular MalaysiaPeninsular Malaysia

Weather in Sabah is dry (FebruaryWeather in Sabah is dry (February April) and housings areApril) and housings arelocated near plantation forestslocated near plantation forestsI n 1983, an area of 5,565 hectares ofI n 1983, an area of 5,565 hectares of Acacia mangiumAcacia mangiumplantation of Sabah Forest Development Authority (SAFODA)plantation of Sabah Forest Development Authority (SAFODA)

was burnt downwas burnt downFrom 1983From 1983 1985, about 1 million hectares has been burnt and1985, about 1 million hectares has been burnt andin 1992, an area of 4.506 hectares were burntin 1992, an area of 4.506 hectares were burnt

Besides the forest and agricultural land, secondary forests,Besides the forest and agricultural land, secondary forests,

roadside areas and electrical and gas cableroadside areas and electrical and gas cable- -way (rightway (right--ofof--way)way)are also high risk areasare also high risk areasI nformation gathered showed that the occurrence of fire is moreI nformation gathered showed that the occurrence of fire is moreprominent when more plantation forest is developed and moreprominent when more plantation forest is developed and morepublic is allowed access to the forestpublic is allowed access to the forest


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F ire in IndonesiaF ire in IndonesiaI nI n I ndonesiaI ndonesia firesfires stronglystrongly degradeddegraded thethe qualityquality ofof remainingremainingforests,forests, particularlyparticularly thethe LowlandLowland DipterocarpDipterocarp forestsforests andand totallytotallydestroyeddestroyed hugehuge areasareas ofof pristinepristine peatpeat swampswamp forestsforests. .FiresFires werewere particularlyparticularly destructivedestructive inin alreadyalready degradeddegradedvegetationvegetation typestypes andand recentlyrecently loggedlogged overover forestsforests whilewhile primaryprimaryoror oldold secondarysecondary forestsforests werewere onlyonly slightlyslightly burntburnt..TheThe losseslosses inin termsterms ofof productiveproductive areaarea andand forestforest stock,stock, mustmustbebe consideredconsidered probablyprobably thethe worstworst--everever thatthat hashas hithit forestryforestry ininI ndonesiaI ndonesia..I tI t waswas estimatedestimated thatthat losseslosses inin timbertimber stockstock includingincluding lostlostgrowthgrowth andand nonnon--timbertimber forestforest productsproducts amountedamounted upup toto 33 billionbillionUSUS$$ (ADB,(ADB,19991999)).. TheThe losseslosses inin timbertimber plantationsplantations valuevalue werewereestimatedestimated toto exceedexceed 100100 MillionMillion USUS$$..


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I nI n additionaddition toto thesethese environmentalenvironmental damagesdamages millionsmillions ofof USUS$$werewere lostlost duedue toto directdirect oror indirectindirect damagesdamages ofof houses,houses,agriculturalagricultural yields, yields, healthhealth andand tourismtourism.. AgriculturalAgricultural losseslosses

duedue toto drought,drought, firefire andand hazehaze werewere estimatedestimated 500500 MillionMillionUSUS$$.. AdditionalAdditional sociosocio--economiceconomic costscosts asas health,health, tourism,tourism,transportationtransportation andand firefire fightingfighting amountedamounted toto 320320 MillionMillionUSUS$$..


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Causes of Fire in IndonesiaCauses of Fire in Indonesialand clearing by oil palm concessionairesland clearing by oil palm concessionairesdevelopment of logged over areas into pulp wooddevelopment of logged over areas into pulp woodplantationsplantations

illegal occupation of land by farmers due to the economicillegal occupation of land by farmers due to the economiccrisis in I ndonesiacrisis in I ndonesiaslash and burn agricultureslash and burn agricultureland conflicts, i.e. conflicts between local communities andland conflicts, i.e. conflicts between local communities and

concession holders, overlap of property rightsconcession holders, overlap of property rightshunting with firehunting with firegeneral lack of awareness to firegeneral lack of awareness to fire


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Impact of Forest FireImpact of Forest FireTheThe impactsimpacts ofof firefire onon wildlifewildlife andand biodiversitybiodiversity inin rainforestsrainforestsareare onlyonly vaguelyvaguely knownknown..

I nI n EastEast KalimantanKalimantan hundredshundreds ofof OrangOrang UtansUtans werewere drivendriven outoutofof thethe forestsforests byby thethe firefire.. AsAs theythey soughtsought forfor foodfood inin

agriculturalagricultural fieldsfields andand plantationsplantations adultsadults werewere killedkilled whilewhileinfantsinfants werewere soldsold asas petspets..I nitialI nitial studiesstudies suggestsuggest thatthat importantimportant ecosystemsecosystems withwithspecializedspecialized indigenousindigenous animalsanimals andand plantsplants havehave beenbeendestroyeddestroyed..MoreMore thanthan 7070%% ofof thethe peatpeat swampswamp forestsforests inin EastEastKalimantan,Kalimantan, aa refugeerefugee habitathabitat forfor OrangOrang Utan,Utan, havehave beenbeenburntburnt.. DuringDuring thethe firesfires hungryhungry farmersfarmers huntedhunted forfor anyany animalanimalwhichwhich couldcould bebe eateneaten oror soldsold..


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TheThe impactsimpacts ofof firesfires toto thethe environment,environment, economyeconomy andand toto thethesocietysociety areare complexcomplex andand notnot inin allall casescases negativenegative..

FireFire inin naturalnatural ecosystemsecosystems reducesreduces atat firstfirst thethe accumulatedaccumulated

burnableburnable biomassbiomass.. ThisThis leadsleads toto anan increaseincrease ofof thethemineralisationmineralisation processprocess.. I nI n tropicaltropical rainforestsrainforests thisthis effecteffect isistraditionallytraditionally usedused inin shiftingshifting cultivationcultivation systemssystems..FiresFires areare alsoalso usedused toto preservepreserve oror extentextent pasturepasture landslands andandforfor huntinghunting.. SuchSuch aa firefire managementmanagement systemsystem isis onlyonlysustainablesustainable wherewhere soilssoils areare toleranttolerant andand stablestable..


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I fI f aa firefire destroysdestroys aa rainforestrainforest soilssoils areare exposedexposed toto heavyheavyprecipitationprecipitation andand erosionerosion processesprocesses areare initiatedinitiated whichwhich areare

irreparableirreparable oror requirerequire majormajor (and(and expensive)expensive) effortsefforts forforregenerationregeneration.. I fI f thethe forestforest covercover doesdoes notnot recoverrecover fastfastadditionaladditional problemsproblems arisearise likelike reductionreduction ofof waterwater storagestoragecapacity,capacity, increasedincreased waterwater drainage,drainage, dropdrop ofof groundground waterwaterlevellevel etcetc..


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I nI n BorneoBorneo thethe regenerationregeneration ofof burntburnt rainforestrainforest requiresrequiresdecadesdecades..ReforestationReforestation andand plantationsplantations areare costlycostly andand highlyhighly proneprone totofirefire..RecurrentRecurrent firesfires inin thethe pastpast years years startedstarted aa feedbackfeedback processprocesswhichwhich furtherfurther deteriorateddeteriorated forestsforests. .TheThe finalfinal stagestage ofof thisthis cyclecycle isis indicatedindicated byby thethe invasioninvasion ofof thethehighlyhighly combustiblecombustible alangalang alangalang grassgrass.. AlangAlang alangalang grasslandsgrasslands areare

oftenoften setset afireafire byby huntershunters toto attractattract gamegame thusthus eradicatingeradicating anyanygrowthgrowth ofof treestrees andand speedingspeeding upup soilsoil erosionerosion..

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(1) Forest Fire