Anaimalai Tiger Reserve covers an area of 958 sq. km. Out of this, 25 places have been identified as areas of biodiversity importance and are being protected. Earlier than usual this year, drought has occurred in the Western Ghats and the spread of forest fires has increased. In particular, the Valparai Forest Department recently arrested a person who set fire to smuggle sandalwood in the ecologically important Akkamalai ‘Cross Hills’ area.
In this case, forest fire spread in more than 7 places in few days in Udumalai, Amaravati, Kollam and Vandarau forest areas under Anaimalai Tiger Reserve, Tirupur Forest Division.
The Forest Department said:
In densely forested areas, man-made forest fires are likely to cause more damage. Therefore, a special committee will be formed in all the forest rangers headed by the forest ranger. The team will conduct a direct survey of areas where forest fires have already broken out and are likely to occur. If the fire is confirmed to be human-caused, the team will continue to investigate.
Awareness is also created in the hilly villages and we are going to involve the rural people in these works.
Thus, the forest officials said.