DOI: https://doi.org/10.21276/AATCCReview.2025.13.01.01

Abstract

The Kashmir Valley is home to a series of wetlands that span over 7,000 hectares.
These wetlands are recognized as some of the most biologically diverse ecosystems,
providing habitat for a wide variety of plant and animal species. Additionally, wetlands are
often referred to as ecotones, highlighting their role as transitional areas between different
ecological communities. The Hokersar wetland is the queen of the wetlands of Kashmir
valley situated 10 kilometers northwest of Srinagar, was first designated as a conservation
reserve under the Jammu and Kashmir Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1978. Anchar is a
semiurban, single basin lake. This lake is situated about 14 km from Srinagar city on the
northwestern part. Once a 19.4 sq km, pristine water lake, Anchar is now shrunken to just 6.8
sq kms. The Hygam Wetland Conservation Reserve, situated about 40 kilometers from
Srinagar, represents the largest remaining reed bed in the Kashmir Valley. This wetland is of
considerable ecological and ornithological importance, serving as a critical habitat for
numerous bird species and contributing to the region's biodiversity. Shallabugh is a shallow
wetland located in Sherpathri area of Ganderbal district at a distance of about 20 km in the
northwest of Srinagar city and covers an area of about 17 km 2 . Wular Lake, one of the largest
and deepest freshwater lakes in South Asia, is located near Bandipora town in the Bandipora
district of Jammu and Kashmir, India. Once covering an extensive area of approximately
20,000 hectares, the lake has significantly reduced in size to around 2,400 hectares. Despite
this reduction, Wular Lake remains a popular recreational destination that attracts a large
number of tourists each year. The Tulbul Project is a "navigation lock-cum-control structure "
at the mouth of Wular Lake.  Major threats of these wetlands includes conversion for agriculture and horticulture development, increasing dependence for energy, adoption oferosion intensifying agro- practices in catchments, degradation of high altitude pastures, quarrying etc. Mitigation strategies include an immediate ban on landconversion/construction, effective solid waste management, and effective surveillance by the wildlife protection department, reduction in the use of agrochemicals and community conservation by designating it as a sacred water body based on religious faith can lead to the protection of these water bodies.

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