By F. Ahmed, IANS
Srinagar : With thousands of avian visitors arriving here each day from Russian Siberia, China, Eastern Europe and the Philippines, the Kashmir wetlands are a riot of colour and cackle these days. But not all is well in these reserves.
“Nearly 600,000 migratory birds have arrived so far in just one wetland reserve of the valley, the Hokersar wetland reserve,” said Rashid Naqash, Wildlife Warden (Central Division) here.
“We have four national parks, 14 sanctuaries and 35 conservation reserves in the state.”
The migratory birds that come to India’s Jammu and Kashmir state each year to escape the extreme cold in their summer homes include white lag geese, mallards, teals, coots, pintails, red-crusted pochards, gadwalls and shovellers.
“While the valley receives the white lag geese, another species known as the barbed geese come annually to the wetland reserves of the state’s Jammu region,” said Naqash.
Master Habibullah, 62, lives on the periphery of the Shallabugh wetland reserve in Ganderbal district. His love for migratory birds has made him an ardent bird watcher since childhood.
“I have always watched the geese and ducks fly to the valley in mesmerising formations. There is an amazing symmetry and system in their arrival and departure here,” Habibullah told IANS.
“I always take my grandchildren to see and hear the migratory birds. They exist in perfect harmony while competing for food and space. Wish we humans could learn from them.”
Habibullah’s words of caution are not without reason. For, human activity is taking a toll on Kashmir’s wetland reserves.
“Four of our wetland sites have been notified under the Ramsar International Convention on conservation of wetlands,” said Naqash. Internationally significant and endangered wetlands are brought under this list.
“Special financial packages are available for the preservation and development of wetlands under the Ramsar convention,” Naqash explained.
“The world famous Wullar lake and the Hokersar wetland reserves are notified under this convention in the valley while Surinsar-Mansar in the Jammu region and Tsomorari (Tsokar) lake in the Ladakh region are also notified for international focus and funding.
“Three sites – the Wullar Lake, Surinsar-Mansar and Tsomorari (Tsokar) – have also been included in the prime minister’s reconstruction package,” Naqash said.
The wetlands of Kashmir are facing serious problems that might jeopardise both their future and the glory of this heritage.
“The reclamation of lands around the wetlands for development, agricultural conversion and excessive siltation are the main problems faced by our wetlands. Excessive removal of bio-mass and degradation of water quality are the other major problems,” Naqash said.
The expert also said all these factors had led to loss of biodiversity in Kashmir’s wetlands.
“As human interference plays havoc with the delicate ecology inside our wetlands, the discharge of nutrients and effluents directly into these water bodies feeds poisons into them,” Naqash said.
Does this mean there is little hope for the Kashmir wetlands?
“The situation is alarming, but an honest, aggressive revival effort to improve and preserve our wetlands is still possible,” he said.
“Awareness among locals is the most crucial revival factor. We have to educate the people that our survival is directly linked to our capacity to coexist with wildlife.”