Framework for eForest Fire Management in the Shifting Cultivation-Dominated Landscape of Meghalaya, North East India, Using Remote Sensing and GIS

Meghalaya, ‘the abode of clouds’ is one of the states of North East India. The state witnesses several forest fire incidents every year. In this study, MODIS-based forest fire counts from 2003 to 2023 have been used for the generation of forest fire-prone and vulnerability maps. The forest fire vulnerability map has been gene­rated at 1 : 10 k for the entire state and at 1 : 5 k for Reserve Forests, Community Reserve Forests and other Protected Areas. Ri Bhoi and West Khasi Hills districts witness high forest fire incidents compared to all the other districts. Maximum number of forest fire occurs in moderately dense and very dense forests. The eForest Fire Information System, viz. ‘Meghalaya Forest Fire Information System’ has a dashboard with geospatial forest fire information and a forest fire incident repor­ting android based app developed for fire managers both at Government and community level. Shifting cultivation (jhum) is a predominant land-use pattern; therefore the framework has embedded jhum area information for improving forest fire management strategies to match the local scenario.