Wildfires destroy a great number of trees, resulting in not only emission of greenhouse gases, but also having immense economic consequences.
Wildfires can be triggered by a cigarette butt as also by concentration of sunlight through a small convex piece of glass causing a minute fire.
It is also known that several real estate entities as well of those wanting to plant various crops as well as starting livestock business deliberately start fires which may then be fanned by wind.
Large forested areas like the Amazon are the carbon sinks of greenhouse gases as they take in carbon dioxide and clean the air by producing oxygen through the process of photosynthesis. Huge amounts of carbon dioxide are cleared from the air through the process of photosynthesis.
In north India too, stubble burning causes pollution of the atmosphere, Delhi being an example of the same every year.
Now the government has introduced incinerators for the burning of stubble which is hoped will curb pollution in northern India.
In the interest of clean air and abiding by the Paris climate agreement on reversing global warming, it should be our endeavour to prevent wildfires as well as safe disposal of stubble.
ELVIDIO MIRANDA, by email
