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Decadal scale fire dynamics in savannas and forests of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, India

Pradyumna Rajashekar,Aparna Krishnan,Varan Varma,Jayshree Ratnam,M. Sankaran,Caroline E. R. Lehmann

Published 2025 in International journal of wildland fire

ABSTRACT

Background The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (NBR) in the Western Ghats, India, contains a mosaic of savannas and forests. This landscape experiences wildfires regularly, but we lack an understanding of factors driving fire regimes in the region. Aims To examine the effects of climate, vegetation and human activity on wildfires in the NBR. Methods Using remotely sensed datasets, we examine how mean annual rainfall (MAR), topographic complexity and human activity influence fires in savannas and forests of the NBR across a wet (2001–2010) and dry decade (2011–2020). Key results Across both decades, savannas burned more frequently and over larger areas than forests. Burnt area and fire frequency in both habitats were higher in the wet decade. Human modification was the major driver of fire occurrence in the wet decade, but MAR took on greater importance in the dry decade. Conclusions Savannas and forests in the NBR have differing fire regimes. During dry periods, these systems are fuel limited and MAR best describes the occurrence of fires. During wet periods when fuel is not limiting, proxies for anthropogenic ignitions best explain fire occurrence. Implications Climate, vegetation and humans collectively determine fire regimes in the NBR. Fire management must integrate across all these factors at the landscape scale to be effective.

PUBLICATION RECORD

  • Publication year

    2025

  • Venue

    International journal of wildland fire

  • Publication date

    2025-06-11

  • Fields of study

    Not labeled

  • Identifiers
    DOI 10.1071/wf24174
  • External record

    Open on Semantic Scholar

  • Source metadata

    Semantic Scholar

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