The United Conservation Movement (UCM), in collaboration with the Karnataka Forest Department and the Karnataka Fire and Emergency Services Department, organised a forest firefighting training workshop for local community members at Bandipur Tiger Reserve on Friday.
The workshop, which was held after a gap of three years due to the Covid 19 pandemic, aimed to equip the local residents with the skills and knowledge to combat forest fires and protect the rich biodiversity of the region.
Dr Ramesh Kumar, the field director of Bandipur Tiger Reserve, and the District Forest Officer addressed the participants and highlighted the importance of forest conservation. They spoke about the devastating impact of forest fires on the wildlife, flora, and fauna of the reserve, which is home to over 100 species of mammals, 350 species of birds, and 80 species of reptiles. They also urged the local residents to join hands with the government in safeguarding the forests and preventing human-induced fires.
The UCM has been conducting forest firefighting training programs for the past eight years, with the support of the Forest Department and the Fire Department. However, the training sessions were halted in 2020 due to the Covid 19 outbreak and the subsequent lockdowns. Although they were scheduled to resume in December 2023, they were postponed again due to the surge in cases. Finally, after a hiatus of three years, the workshop has now been restarted, with strict adherence to the Covid 19 protocols.
The Forest Department arrived from Gundulpet with two fire extinguishing vehicles. Gururaj, the District Fire Officer from Chamrajnagar, along with nine of his staff, provided hands-on training on using the equipment. They oriented the participants about various tools such as chemical fire extinguishers, air blowers, fire beaters, and fire engines. They also demonstrated how to contain and extinguish a forest fire using these tools.
Over 22 youths from the surrounding villages of Gundulpet, Nanjangudu, and other areas attended the training programme. They will receive participation certificates from the Fire Department, Forest Department, and the UCM. These trained individuals will be available during forest fire emergencies to assist the Forest Department with the hands-on experience they have gained. Moreover, they will support the Forest Department by providing water and other necessities when personnel are actively firefighting.
Daniel Sukumar, a Trustee of the UCM, said, “We have been conducting the training for the past eight years. It started when a big fire had happened in Bandipur in 2016, which destroyed over 4000 hectares of forest land. We realised that there was a need to involve the local communities in forest fire management, as they are the first responders and the most affected by the fires. We also wanted to create awareness and sensitisation among them about the value of forests and wildlife. Since then, we have trained over 500 youths from different villages in Bandipur and other reserves. We are happy to resume the training after a long gap and hope to continue it in the future.”
The UCM is a non-governmental organisation that works for the conservation of forests, wildlife, and natural resources. It also conducts various activities such as wildlife rescue and rehabilitation, awareness campaigns, research and documentation, and advocacy. The UCM has been working closely with the Forest Department and the Fire Department to prevent and control forest fires in Karnataka.
