Synergistic approaches in forest fire risk mapping using fuzzy AHP and machine learning models in the Chure Tarai Madhesh Landscape (CTML) of Nepal

Forest fires are recurrent natural hazards threatening ecosystems, biodiversity, and nearby communities. The Chure Tarai Madhesh Landscape (CTML) is a biodiversity hotspot harboring endangered species of flora and fauna. The increasing severity of forest fires in this region has raised immediate con...

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Main Authors: Milan Dhakal, Balram Bhatta, Prakash Lamichhane, Ashok Parajuli
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
Series:Geomatics, Natural Hazards & Risk
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19475705.2024.2436540
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author Milan Dhakal
Balram Bhatta
Prakash Lamichhane
Ashok Parajuli
author_facet Milan Dhakal
Balram Bhatta
Prakash Lamichhane
Ashok Parajuli
author_sort Milan Dhakal
collection DOAJ
description Forest fires are recurrent natural hazards threatening ecosystems, biodiversity, and nearby communities. The Chure Tarai Madhesh Landscape (CTML) is a biodiversity hotspot harboring endangered species of flora and fauna. The increasing severity of forest fires in this region has raised immediate concerns, yet research remains limited. This study explores synergistic approaches for forest fire risk mapping using a knowledge-based model (Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP)) and data-driven models (Random Forest (RF) and Boosted Regression Tree (BRT)). This study utilized eleven conditioning factors and assessed model accuracy using the ROC curve and multiclass error matrix. The results demonstrate low multicollinearity among factors and a robust FAHP consistency ratio of 0.03. The RF model outperformed with an AUC of 0.95 and an overall accuracy of 0.91. The study revealed an increasing seasonal trend in fire incidents, with the western region showing heightened vulnerability. The RF, BRT, and FAHP models classified landscape forest areas as highly susceptible to fires; 47.85%, 33.25%, and 50%, respectively, with fourteen out of thirty-six districts of CTML were at heightened risk of wildfires. This holistic approach to fire risk assessment aids in creating more impactful fire risk management plans and provides a foundation for automated fire risk assessment.
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spelling doaj-art-c4c3fc0a3f79404cad1604b90502505c2025-08-20T02:50:29ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGeomatics, Natural Hazards & Risk1947-57051947-57132024-12-0115110.1080/19475705.2024.2436540Synergistic approaches in forest fire risk mapping using fuzzy AHP and machine learning models in the Chure Tarai Madhesh Landscape (CTML) of NepalMilan Dhakal0Balram Bhatta1Prakash Lamichhane2Ashok Parajuli3Faculty of Forestry, Agriculture and Forestry University, Hetauda, Makawanpur, NepalFaculty of Forestry, Agriculture and Forestry University, Hetauda, Makawanpur, NepalClimate Change Management Division, Ministry of Forests and Environment, NepalMinistry of Forests and Environment, Kathmandu, Bagamati Province, NepalForest fires are recurrent natural hazards threatening ecosystems, biodiversity, and nearby communities. The Chure Tarai Madhesh Landscape (CTML) is a biodiversity hotspot harboring endangered species of flora and fauna. The increasing severity of forest fires in this region has raised immediate concerns, yet research remains limited. This study explores synergistic approaches for forest fire risk mapping using a knowledge-based model (Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP)) and data-driven models (Random Forest (RF) and Boosted Regression Tree (BRT)). This study utilized eleven conditioning factors and assessed model accuracy using the ROC curve and multiclass error matrix. The results demonstrate low multicollinearity among factors and a robust FAHP consistency ratio of 0.03. The RF model outperformed with an AUC of 0.95 and an overall accuracy of 0.91. The study revealed an increasing seasonal trend in fire incidents, with the western region showing heightened vulnerability. The RF, BRT, and FAHP models classified landscape forest areas as highly susceptible to fires; 47.85%, 33.25%, and 50%, respectively, with fourteen out of thirty-six districts of CTML were at heightened risk of wildfires. This holistic approach to fire risk assessment aids in creating more impactful fire risk management plans and provides a foundation for automated fire risk assessment.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19475705.2024.2436540Forest fireChure Tarai Madhesh Landscapefuzzy AHPmachine learningforest fire risk map
spellingShingle Milan Dhakal
Balram Bhatta
Prakash Lamichhane
Ashok Parajuli
Synergistic approaches in forest fire risk mapping using fuzzy AHP and machine learning models in the Chure Tarai Madhesh Landscape (CTML) of Nepal
Geomatics, Natural Hazards & Risk
Forest fire
Chure Tarai Madhesh Landscape
fuzzy AHP
machine learning
forest fire risk map
title Synergistic approaches in forest fire risk mapping using fuzzy AHP and machine learning models in the Chure Tarai Madhesh Landscape (CTML) of Nepal
title_full Synergistic approaches in forest fire risk mapping using fuzzy AHP and machine learning models in the Chure Tarai Madhesh Landscape (CTML) of Nepal
title_fullStr Synergistic approaches in forest fire risk mapping using fuzzy AHP and machine learning models in the Chure Tarai Madhesh Landscape (CTML) of Nepal
title_full_unstemmed Synergistic approaches in forest fire risk mapping using fuzzy AHP and machine learning models in the Chure Tarai Madhesh Landscape (CTML) of Nepal
title_short Synergistic approaches in forest fire risk mapping using fuzzy AHP and machine learning models in the Chure Tarai Madhesh Landscape (CTML) of Nepal
title_sort synergistic approaches in forest fire risk mapping using fuzzy ahp and machine learning models in the chure tarai madhesh landscape ctml of nepal
topic Forest fire
Chure Tarai Madhesh Landscape
fuzzy AHP
machine learning
forest fire risk map
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19475705.2024.2436540
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