KATHMANDU, MARCH 15 As Nepal enters the dry season, particularly from Falgun to Jestha, the risk of forest fires across the country rises significantly. In a statement, the Ministry of Forest and Environment said, 'Forest fires not only threaten forest resources and biodiversity but also disrupt ecological balance, affect water resources, and pose health hazards to humans.' Timely prevention, preparedness, stakeholder coordination, and public awareness are therefore critical. In line with the Forest-Fire Management Strategy, 2067, the Ministry is organizing a nationwide initiative under the theme: 'Wildfire Prevention Effectiveness: Three Tiers of Government and Community Engagement.' As part of this effort, the Ministry conducts an annual 'Wildfire Management Week' from Chaitra 1–7 to promote awareness and preventive measures. The Ministry has urged all concerned stakeholders to implement localized public awareness programs, including school- and community-level orientation sessions, targeted media campaigns, supervision of high-risk areas, demarcation of fire control lines, and cleanliness drives. These measures aim to enhance community engagement and strengthen early response capacity during wildfire incidents. Expressing appreciation, the Ministry acknowledged the efforts of forest division staff, rangers, community forest user groups, local authorities, security agencies, media, and other stakeholders for their contributions to forest fire prevention and control. 'Your commitment, cooperation, and relentless efforts in forest and environmental conservation are invaluable,' the statement noted. The Ministry emphasized that most forest fires are human-induced, highlighting the importance of active participation from all responsible stakeholders. Effective management of the growing wildfire risk requires collective action, strengthened coordination, and shared responsibility among federal, provincial, and local authorities, community forest groups, security agencies, the private sector, media, and local communities. Forest fire management, the Ministry stressed, is not the responsibility of any single entity but a shared societal duty. Active and coordinated participation is essential for prevention, early warning, prompt containment, and public awareness campaigns. Dhiredra Kumar Pradhan, Director General of the Department of Forests and Soil Conservation, called upon all government agencies, civil society organizations, and local communities to work hand in hand with shared commitment to strengthen forest fire prevention and control efforts nationwide.