Hyderabad: Forest fires recorded in Telangana in 2014 were the third highest in the past 10 years.
According to the State of Forest Report-2014 released by the Telangana forest department recently, 873 forest fires were recorded in Telangana in 2014 after 1,015 in 2012 and 1,066 in 2009.
The maximum number of forest fires was recorded in Warangal (339) and in Khammam (335). These two forest circles also recorded a majority of forest area losses and forest encroachments indicating that most of the forest fires in these two circles must be man-made.
The forest report also mentions that a majority of forest fires across the state are man-made and also for collection of Mahua flower in tribal areas.
Almost all the forest fires were recorded in the months of February, March and April, the report said. In Kawal tiger reserve, there were 54 forest fires in 2014 and in Amrabad tiger reserve there were 102, all of them in Achampet division.
Experts across the world believe that increased forest fires are one of the impacts climate change has on forests.
