Issue of Drying of Wetlands in State :

Wetland ecosystems need to be conserved for the huge biodiversity they hold, socioeconomic advantages they offer, hydrological role they play, environmental balance they maintain and the ecosystem services they provide.

There are more than one thousand smaller and larger water bodies as assessed with the help of satellite imagery in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. But none of these water bodies, barring a few lakes in the valley, two in Jammu and one in Ladakh, ever catches anybody's attention. The state of Jammu and Kashmir, having a diverse geographic and climatic makeup, is replete with lakes, wetlands, bogs, swamps etc. of considerably varying physicochemical and biological characteristics. But very little is known about them. Even the very famous lakes are dying and deteriorating despite separate agencies being attributed to their management and conservation.

The state of Jammu and Kashmir houses considerably good number of small and large water bodies whereof four also figure among Ramsar-sites list. Among a total of 1230 lakes/wetlands listed in a recent ENVIS document, 415 lies in Kashmir, 150 in Jammu and 665 in Ladakh. Dal, Wular, Mansar, Surinsar, and Pangong are the only few which attract the attention of one and all. Unfortunately most of these water bodies face severe threats of varying nature and extent. If the above cited reference is to be believed, the number stood at 1248 (lakes/wetlands in the state) in 1998. It means we have lost 18 water bodies in a decade or so.

Importance of Wetlands :

Water bodies play central role in local hydrological budget, climatic regulation and in controlling the water linked natural disasters like floods and droughts by absorbing heavy surpluses of water at times and releasing them when highly needed. In addition to the ecosystem services provided by them, local agricultural sector is usually found to be linked with adjoining wetlands in more than one ways. Fishing, tourism, boating, swimming, bird watching, hunting and other similar activities revolving around water bodies provide economic outputs and commercial bases. Besides being home to native fish and other life forms these wetlands serve recreational, training and educational purposes.

Causes of decline :

Loss of vegetation, illegal encroachments, excessive inundation, land degradation, soil and water pollution, invasive species, excessive development and road building, have all damaged the country's wetlands. Anthropogenic pressures are on rise everywhere. In the state, many water bodies, having significant tourism weightage and international fame, have shrunk in size considerably in the recent past. Tourism and settlements in and around these waters have damaged them irreparably. Pollutions of various types and degrees have degraded the water quality and scenic splendor of these lakes besides staking the life of innumerable floral and faunal beings. At Gharana and Hokarsar wetlands the number of our winged visitors is being reported to have declined due to deteriorating ecosystems. Others have been converted into garbage disposal sites. Many high altitude lakes in the Pir Panjal Himalayan belt are seem to disappear even before their proper inventorying. Disturbances in wetland ecosystems will end up not only in water and soil related crises, crop failure or disrupted local socio-economies but in wider ecological disasters. All these unnatural changes as accelerated by human interference in the ecological domain are consequently bound to affect one and all.

International Treaty for Wetlands :

International importance of wetlands gets recognized and amply reflected in the Ramasar Convention. The intergovernmental agreement adopted on 2 February 1971 for the conservation and wise use of wetlands underscores the need for a major shift in our attitudes towards wetlands. They are essential both for life and the sustainability of world's economies. India having a huge network of wetlands across its length and breadth is one of the signatories to the Ramsar Convention. There are more than twenty six Indian water bodies identified as Ramsar sites which are deemed to be of international importance and thus, demand special conservation focus under the Convention.

               Wetlands demand protection from encroachments, invasions, pollution, modifications and excessive human interference. A proper mechanism needs to be in place in the state to for detailed investigations and management of the wetlands spread in various regions. Tourism needs to be fully replaced by the ecotourism. Government need to map and adopt a fruitful strategy for conservation of already threatened wetlands.