Harnessing geospatial tools to map the forest fire: Risk zonation in Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand

Abstract

Forest fires pose significant threats to the environment, biodiversity, and the livelihoods of communities reliant on forest resources, particularly in regions with diverse terrain like Pauri Garhwal District in Uttarakhand. This study presents a geospatial approach to forest fire risk zonation using a combination of remote sensing and GIS-based analysis. Climatic and biotic parameters, including land surface temperature (LST), normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), normalized differencewater index (NDWI), and normalized difference moisture index (NDMI), were integrated with topographical variables such as slope, aspect, and elevation. Additionally, proximity to anthropogenic factors like roads and settlements was analyzed to enhance risk assessment accuracy. The study employed the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to assign weights to these factors, facilitating the generation of a comprehensive fire risk zonation map. Sensitivity analysis was conducted using weather, topography, and fuel danger indices to evaluate regional vulnerability. Validation of the risk zonation map was performed using historical fire point data from the NASA fire information for resource management system (NASA FIRMS) portal, ensuring the reliability of the findings. The resultant fire risk maps provide actionable insights for planners, forest officials, and disaster management teams to design and implement effective mitigation measures, contributing to sustainable forest resource management.

Keywords

• Forests
• Wildfires
• Proximity analysis
• Slope
• Aspect
• Elevation