Characterization of forest fire frequency using fire scar mapping of temporal satellite data for forest fire management

Abstract

One of the most complex problems facing in tropical forests, particularly in deciduous forests, is the recurrent incidence of fire. It is well known that fire caused extensive damage in the forest ecosystem by quantitatively and qualitatively. To reduce occurrences of forest fire, proper management of fire is highly important which entails mapping of forest fire frequency and identification of suitable area for watchtowers. In the present study, fire frequency analysis of Melghat Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra was done for the last seven years (2014-2020) based on the fire scar on the temporal Landsat data during fire season (January-June). Fire frequency analysis shows that an area of 1053.64 ha (0.52%) of the reserve was burned all seven years followed by 3050.53 ha (1.49%) for six times, 3849.52 ha (1.88%) for five times, 5520.04 ha (2.70%) for four times, 11845.63 ha (5.80%) for three times, 36863.52 ha (18.03%) for two times, 70126.33 ha (34.31%) for once and 72093.02 ha (35.27%) remains unburned all these seven years. The fire frequency map generated was used as an input for prioritizing the locations of watch towers as well as prioritizing grazing closure areas and fires lines. Identification of suitable sites for locating new watchtowers has been done by integrating and modeling of forest fire frequency map, existing watchtowers and viewshed analysis in GIS. Based on these results only thirteen watchtowers were categorized under retainable among the existing watchtowers and 27 new watchtowers are proposed to cover the entire area.