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Rising from the Ashes
Margalla Hills Forest Fires
DR. Anis Ur Rahman | Published July 29, 2024
The morning of 31 May 2024, was like most Islamabad summer mornings, sunny, very hot and dry. Around 10.30am, a group of three labors from a nearby community, motorcycled their way past the Air and Bahria Universities, to Gandhian, a small village adjoining the Margalla Hills National Park just above the naval golf course to steal some enriched soil for sale to plant nurseries. They disembarked and entered the national park to locate a decent location where they would start work. About an hour later while resting, they lit a cigarette, threw the match and were about to start work again, when they noticed the flames leaping towards them. The dry underbrush, compounded by the hot temperature and rising wind turned the flames into an inferno before their eyes, they tried to extinguish the flames but soon realized it was impossible. Then they ran! Nearby Mr. Ali Khan a local of the village saw the fire rising and the three men running, he sent his workers to apprehend them and ran to try to extinguish the fire. But it was too late, the fire rose over his dead in a matter of minutes, and the heat of the inferno was so strong that it was impossible to even get near the fire, leave alone extinguish it.
The fire was fed by the extensive layer of dried leaves and twigs on the forest floor, coupled with hot winds which were a prefect prescription for a raging forest fire. The flames that had full support of combustible materials, hot and dry air and steep slopes to encourage it spread like wildfire. It took close to two hundred firefighters from CDA supported by wildlife staff and helicopter support from the government over 13 hours to finally arrest the fire. Fortunately the arsonists have been arrested and have been landed jail terms.
The Gandian fire on 31 May 2024
Margalla Hills National Park has become a battleground for an unexpected adversary: arsonists. The serene beauty of this natural haven, just outside the bustling capital city of Islamabad, has been marred by a series of low-intensity forest fires. Local authorities have been vigilant in their efforts to contain and extinguish these fires swiftly, minimizing damage to the park's delicate ecosystem. Over 450 firefighters are hired by CDA every spring to monitor the national park and control the fire if it erupts.
National Parks are a particular category of protected area, which do not allow any plantation, cutting of trees, removal of underbrush and dried leaves. The reason being that these layers of decomposing leaves and grasses are home to seed and insect treats that are abundant in the ground layers, where some birds send leaves flying throughout the year to find the treasures underneath. Mammals forage there too; in the depths of winter, barking deer sometimes even make drying leaves a part of their diet. Insulation and cover are essential to overwintering insects, including butterfly and moth pupae, caterpillars, queen bumblebees and many others.
The climate control provided by fallen leaves regulates moisture for fireflies, who are prone to desiccation, and harbors the snails and slugs their larvae eat. If fallen leaves mean so much to animals every day throughout the year, they are just as important to plants. They return nutrients to the soil, keep the ground warmer during the cold seasons, and preserve moisture when temperatures rise. Removing this precious blanket from the already weary earth in order to avoid fires - disrupts the lives of countless beings and often eliminates their ability to survive. (Nancy Lawson)
Wildfires are devastating regions worldwide, affecting forests, homes, and lives with increasing frequency and intensity due to climate change:
In the Western US, 173 fires burned 12,200 hectares in 2024, far surpassing the 10-year average.
Chile experienced severe wildfires in February 2024, particularly in Valparaíso, leading the government to declare a national mourning period.
Colombia faced over 340 fires in January, affecting 174 municipalities and burning 900 meters of residential areas.
New Zealand's Christchurch Wildlife Fire, starting on February 16, 2024, spread across 700 hectares prompting significant firefighting.
In Greece, wildfires since last year resulted in 28 deaths and 75 injuries, with 79 arrests for arson.
Helicopters assisting in firefighting
The Margalla Hills, known for their diverse flora and fauna, have long been a sanctuary for wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. However, the tranquility was shattered when reports of intentional fires surfaced. Investigations suggest that these fires were not accidental but deliberate acts of arson, raising questions about the motivations behind such destructive behavior. While these fires have sparked concerns among conservationists and local authorities, they have also revealed a surprising phenomenon: nature's remarkable ability to regenerate.
Despite the deliberate nature of these fires, their intensity has been relatively low. This fortunate circumstance has allowed the forest ecosystem to exhibit a swift regeneration process. Experts point out that low-intensity fires can actually benefit certain ecosystems by clearing out underbrush, promoting the growth of new vegetation, and revitalizing the soil. In the case of the Margalla Hills, the aftermath of these fires has revealed patches of fresh greenery sprouting amidst the charred landscape, a testament to nature's resilience.
Charred remains of the Gandian fire, 2 June 2024
As visitors return to enjoy the Margalla Hills' scenic trails and breathtaking vistas, the scars left by the recent fires serve as a poignant reminder of the delicate balance between human activity and nature's enduring beauty. While the specter of arson casts a shadow over this pristine landscape, the resilience of the forest offers hope and inspiration for its ongoing preservation.
Exactly five weeks to the day the fire enveloped the Margalla Hills, and with the smell of wood smoke still in the air, nature is back, and with the advent of the monsoons the first of the green shoots have sprouted - Hope Springs Eternal. This time with better nutrition and sunlight to support growth the forest once again welcomes.
Just 5 weeks after the devastating fire- new shoots of Amaltas (Bauhinia verigata) and Karanda (Carissa opaca) taking the lead for regeneration
The Margalla Hills, recently challenged by deliberate fires, have shown resilience with rapid regeneration. Ongoing efforts to protect this natural treasure require community and authority vigilance. Environmentalists emphasize the need for awareness and stricter law enforcement to safeguard national parks and biodiversity. The Margalla Hills National Park, with its unique dry tropical forest and diverse wildlife, symbolizes Pakistan's natural heritage and must be preserved for future generations.
This article aims to highlight the impact of arson-related forest fires in the Margalla Hills National Park while emphasizing the park's ability to recover swiftly due to the low intensity of the fires. It underscores the importance of conservation efforts and the need for awareness to prevent such incidents in the future.
The writer is
CEO, Himalayan Wildlife Foundation
[email protected]
Images are by the author and are subject to Copyright
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