The seasons of fire | Ignite-Foster-Regenerate

Located in the southern western ghats, the Agastyamalai Biosphere reserve is a part of the UNESCO World Biosphere reserves. These majestic hills are a hotspot of biodiversity and a home to the once semi nomadic tribal community of the Kanis. During our field visit through the Athirumalai forest, I was introduced to the misinterpreted phenomenon of forest fires. Interaction with the community, lead to the observation that forest fires are perceived as “friends of the forest”. The kanis believed that the fires help in the regrowth of the forest and to maintain the cyclic balance in the grassland ecosystem.