By IANS
New Delhi : Pointing out that climate change was no more a future threat but “we are already in it”, Minister of State for Environment and Forests S. Regupathy Tuesday said forest fires were only adding to the problem.
Inaugurating a two-day national workshop on forest fires here, Regupathy said in the “emerging scenario forests will be critical to the issue of climate security”.
“Forests are not only impacted by the climate change but also are natural resources that impact the climate. Any destruction of forest areas will contribute to enhancing the rate of climate change.
“Forest fires, not only contribute significantly to the greenhouse gases (GHG) emission but loss of resources renders the area more vulnerable to climate change,” he said.
He exhorted all stakeholders like state governments, NGOs, tribals and people in general to “protect the forest wealth”.
Commenting on forest fires that have been “annual features in India”, Regupathy said they lead to “serious degradation of forests, ecological changes as well as deterioration of social and economic conditions”.
“In such circumstances along with the conventional approach for fire prevention, reduction and control need to be planned properly. Besides, we must look for newer and effective methods of fire detection, modelling and control,” he said.