CHITWAN: The Chitwan National Park has begun controlled forest fires as a preventive measure to manage grasslands and reduce the risk of uncontrolled wildfires.
The operation is being conducted by a team of park employees and Nepal Army personnel.
According to Abinash Thapa Magar, the park’s information officer, controlled burning helps eliminate flammable materials, making it easier to prevent destructive wildfires during the dry season.
The process also supports wildlife conservation—burning unwanted grass encourages the growth of fresh grass, which benefits grazing animals and helps prevent wildlife from straying into human settlements.
Of the 10,000 hectares of grassland in the park, 300 hectares have been managed through controlled fires so far.
Authorities assure that the fires do not harm ecotourism or wildlife. In fact, the process enhances safari experiences, as wildlife becomes more visible in the cleared grasslands.
Despite these efforts, uncontrolled forest fires remain a challenge due to limited resources. However, the controlled burning technique has significantly reduced damage to the park’s biodiversity, Magar said.
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