Kathmandu. Due to dry and rising temperatures, the forest fires in Nepal are gradually being controlled due to the rain in the last few days. According to data from the System for Detecting and Monitoring Forest Fires (FFDMS), more than 300 fire incidents have been registered in January-February this year. March-May is the fire season in Nepal.
Due to the effects of climate change, Nepal has been at risk of unseasonal rain, hailstorm and excessive rainfall in recent times. Due to lack of seasonal rainfall, not only farming has been affected, but the risk of heavy landslides is increasing due to sudden rain in dry soil.
On the other hand, the incidents of forest fires are increasing in the dry season due to the late onset of rain.
सुक्खाले fires
The National Agro Drought Watch has warned of moderate to severe drought in many districts of western Nepal. In districts like Banke, Bardiya, Dang, Kailali and Kanchanpur, the rainfall in January and February has dried up and become fuel for fire.
Environmental analyst Shrawan Shrestha says, “There is a direct link between drought and forest fires. If there is no rain for a long time and the temperature increases, the risk of spreading the fire increases. ’
#inline_tags_PLACEHOLDER_7##डढेलोको’s catastrophic growth#inline_tags_PLACEHOLDER_9#
The number of forest fires in Nepal has doubled in the last 10 years. More than 6,000 fires were reported in 2021 and more than 5,000 in 2024. More than 1,500 forest fires have been reported in banke, Bardiya and Surkhet districts since 2012. The risk of fire has also increased in the hilly districts like Dadeldhura, Doti and Salyan.
##inline_tags_PLACEHOLDER_7#impact on #स्वास्थ्य and environment
Forest fires have made the air quality index of big cities very poor. In 2024, fire and smoke caused carbon monoxide levels to reach dangerous levels. Which affects people’s lungs. Not only this, it has also increased the problem of soil erosion, landslide risk and silt accumulation in the river. Kathmandu topped the list of most polluted cities in the world in March and April 2025. Urban areas, including Pokhara and Dang, outside Kathmandu, are also at the highest risk of air pollution.
The Department of Forest and Soil Conservation, with the help of ICIMOD, is operating the FFDMS system to detect fires and give warnings. Director General of the Department, Badri Raj Dhungana, has called for effective legal system for fire prevention, community participation and mobilization of modern equipment.
विशेषज्ञहरुले have urged to take the following steps –#inline_tags_PLACEHOLDER_9###
- आधुनिक equipment and training to enhance fire control capabilities.
- जनचेतना campaign to make people aware of the risk of fire.
- सामुदायिक Participation Based Fire Management (CBFIM).
##inline_tags_PLACEHOLDER_41#to implement firebreak and sustainable forest management to prevent #आगो.
Nepal currently has the most dangerous fire season. If proper steps are not taken soon, it will be difficult to control wildfire fires and the devastating consequences it will bring. – Based on ISIMOD report
