The word “wetland” is derived from the combination of two independent words -‘wet’ and ‘land’ which primarily gives the idea of a land saturated with water, that may house certain plants and “animals”. (Ansari and Oseni, 2012). Wetland has lot of importance in ecology, biodiversity and maintaining various natural cycles. There are many different types of wetlands, each determined by its hydrology, water chemistry, soils, and the plant species found there. Wetlands may be characterized as dominated by trees, shrubs, or herbaceous vegetation. They may be fed by precipitation, runoff, or groundwater, with water chemistry ranging from very acidic to alkaline. According to Article-1 of the Convention on wetlands of international importance especially as waterfowl Habitat (1971), “wetlands are areas of marsh, fen, peat land or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide doesn’t exceed 6-metres. These are habitats where water saturation determines the nature of plants and animals, whether aquatic or terrestrial, that are found in such areas (Cowardin, et al., 1979). Wetlands are features transitional between terrestrial and aquatic systems where the water table is usually at or near the surface or the land is covered by shallow water. Wetlands for the purpose of this classification must have one or more of the three characteristics i.e., (i) at least periodically the land supports predominantly hydrophytes. (ii) The substrate is predominantly un-drained hydric soils; and (iii) The substrate is non-soil and is saturated with water or covered by shallow water at some time during the growing season each year. Wetlands are transitional habitats in the sense that they are neither terrestrial nor aquatic, but exhibit characteristics of both. Their boundaries are part of a continuum of physical and functional characters, and may expand or contract over time depending upon factors such as average annual precipitation, evapotranspiration and modifications to the watershed. The transitional nature of wetland characteristics and the shifting of wetland boundaries render precise identification of wetland boundaries, if not possible (Moirangleima, 2010). It is reported that wetlands vary according to their origin, geographical location, water-regime, chemistry, dominant plants and soil or sediment characteristics ((Maltby, 1986). The classifications of wetlands have been suggested from time to time as earlier classification describes wetland types on the basis of flooding, depth, dominant forms of vegetation and salinity regimes. At international level, wetlands have been classified by many scholars and Academicians (e.g., Dugan, 1990). Valley of Kashmir is famous in world for its beauty, is replete with diverse types of fresh water bodies. Majority of these natural aquatic system are shallow basined and classified under western Himalayan wetlands. Wetlands are a critical part of our natural environment and they protect our shores from wave action, reduce the impacts of floods, absorb pollutants and improve water quality. They provide habitat for animals and plants and many contain a wide diversity of life, supporting plants and animals that are found nowhere else. The wetlands of Kashmir are mostly located in the flood plan of River Jehlum and Sind and are characterized by the varying in Hydroedaphic features. All the wetlands are linked with each other. Wetlands form a significant part of our ecosystem. Wetlands can decrease flooding remove pollutants from water, recharge groundwater, protect shorelines, provide habitat for wildlife, and perform other various important functions. The wetlands of Kashmir valley can also be classified in a comparatively easier way on the basis of various characteristics like altitude, size (water-spread area) status of wetland, location, and source of water. The Jammu & Kashmir region has 3651 big and small wetlands. The wetlands of J&K, Surinsar-Mansar in Jammu, Hokersar and Wular in Kashmir are identified as Ramsar Wetlands of International Importance. The Present Status of Wetlands of Kashmir Valley of J&K are given as under:
S.No. Name of Wetland District Present Status
1. Khushal Sar Srinagar Marshy
2. Gilsar Srinagar Habitation/Marshy
3. Ahansar Srinagar Marshy/Agriculture
4. Anchar lake Srinagar Plantation/Habitation/agriculture
5. Nagin lake Srinagar Marshy/Habitation
6. Dale lake Srinagar Marshy/Habitation/Agriculture
7. Rampur Taloo Anantnag Playground
8. Chakla Nambal Anantnag Agriculture land
9. Munshahun Taloo Anantnag Agriculture
10 Kiel Khanun Taloo Anantnag Agriculture
11 Buta Sar Kupwara Buta Sar
12 Tekipur Kupwara Seasonal
13. Nonn Khan Chak Kupwara Seasonal
14. Wudina Sar Baramulla Agriculture
15. Tsore Teng Baramulla Seasonal
16. Malipur Baramulla Marshy
17. Wullar Lake Bandipora Marshy/Plantation/Agriculture
18. Haighan Jhil Baramulla Agriculture/Marshy
19. Gadsar Baramulla Agriculture
20. Rakhi Malanpur Pulwama Agriculture
21. Chowkidar Sar Pulwama Agriculture
22. Baner Nambal Pulwama Horticulture
23. Bod Sar Pulwama Marshy/Agriculture
24. Rakhi-Arth Budgam Land/Agriculture
25. Nambli Narkur Budgam Plantation/Agri/Marshy/Habitation
26. Hokar Sar Budgam Plantation/Marshy/Habitation
27. Danda Rokhaw Budgam Marshy/Agriculture
Source: Directory of Lakes and Water Bodies. (2012). J&K.
The winged visitors from Central Asia and Europe start arriving Kashmir valley in lakhs towards the first week of November and the concentration of migratory birds will peak around first week of February. Kashmir presents migratory birds a comparatively hospitable alternate habitat compared to the extreme freezing conditions in their natural habitats in Siberia, China, Japan and other countries in northern hemisphere. Tufted Duck, Gadwall, Brahminy Duck, Garganey, Greylag Goose, Mallard, Common Merganser, Northern Pintail, Common Pochard, Ferruginous Pochard, Red-Crested Pochard, Ruddy Shelduck, Northern Shoveler, Common Teal, and Eurasian Wigeon are some of the most sighted birds in the wetlands of Kashmir. It is reported that there are around 106 species of birds nestle in these wetlands, including 25 species of land birds which visit occasionally and several endangered species. It is noticed that nothing is being done to sort out the issues with the locals who have encroached upon the land around the wetlands in the absence of proper records. Beautiful Valley of Kashmir is bestowed with large number of impressive wetlands like Haigam Rakh, Wetlands has the rich source of water lilies that allure one to have a photograph there. It is now a protected game sanctuary in J&K. The Kashmir valley has a large number of wetlands. However, their ecological and socio-economic values were rarely explored. Wetlands in Kashmir are currently facing multi-dimensional threats due to human encroachments and government apathy. Public awareness is an important factor in saving wetland of Kashmir. The details of wetlands of Kashmir are given in various research papers (e.g., Dr. Shaikh Gh.Rasool, Dr. Bilal A. Bhat et al., 2019; Dr Bilal, 2020; Aliya Mehraj & Prof. Muni Parveen, 2021).
Degraded wetlands have a compounding adverse impact on our welfare, affecting our access to clean water, disrupting our livelihoods, impacting the delicate balance of ecosystems that are essential to us. The good news is that the solution is in our hands. Investing in the sustainable use of wetlands means investing in the future of humanity. Wetland restoration is essential to overcoming the climate-biodiversity crisis and to delivering the Sustainable Development Goals as well as the Global Biodiversity Framework.World Wetlands Day on 2 February 2024 is celebrated to raise awareness about wetlands to reverse their rapid loss and encourage actions to conserve and restore them. Let us save Wetlands otherwise we are doomed.
World Wetlands Day 2024: World Wetlands Day is celebrated every year on 2 February. This day marks the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on 2 February 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea.World Wetlands Day was celebrated for the first time in 1997 and made an encouraging beginning.The Standing Committee of the Convention has approved the themes for World Wetlands Day as follows:2022: Wetlands action for people and nature, 2023: Wetland restoration and 2024: Wetlands and human wellbeing. This year’s campaign – Wetlands and Human Wellbeing – spotlights how interconnected wetlands and human life are, with people drawing sustenance, inspiration and resilience from these productive ecosystems. Importantly, it underscores how all aspects of human wellbeing are tied to the health of the world’s wetlands. Wetlands are climate superheroes. Wetland flora are vital to both adaptation and mitigation. Mangrove forests and seagrass meadows protect shorelines from storm surges and sea level rise. Mangroves are also superheroes at capturing and storing carbon. In fact, it is estimated that they store four times more carbon than other tropical forests. Peatlands cover only about 3% of our planet’s land but store approximately twice the amount of carbon than all the world’s forests combined.Conversely, the loss and degradation of wetlands exacerbates the climate crisis by releasing greenhouse gases and leaving ecosystems, and the people dependent on them, more vulnerable to the effects of climate change.Wetlands ensure water security as almost all of the world’s freshwater is drawn directly from wetlands. Wetlands play a crucial role in water purification, storage, and flood control. Peatlands act like sponges – absorbing excess water in times of heavy rainfall, and releasing it slowly in times of drought. Seagrass meadows and mangrove roots remove impurities and saline from seawater. Wetlands are so central to the water cycle, that a world without wetlands would be a world without freshwater. And unfortunately, the climate crisis is also a water crisis.Wetlands provide space for wellness as Rivers, lakes, coastal wetlands, and urban wetlands provide space for quiet reflection. They are meditative places and time spent in wetlands boosts mental health. Recreational activities including walking, swimming, kayaking promote physical wellbeing. For thousands of years, wetland plants and animals have also provided the basis for our medicines.Yet, wetlands are the Earth’s most threatened ecosystem and we’re losing them three times faster than forests. Human activities like drainage, conversion, and damming have fragmented and damaged wetlands the world over. Degraded wetlands have a compounding adverse impact on our welfare, affecting our access to clean water, disrupting our livelihoods, impacting the delicate balance of ecosystems that are essential to us. The good news is that the solution is in our hands. Investing in the sustainable use of wetlands means investing in the future of humanity. Wetland restoration is essential to overcoming the climate-biodiversity crisis and to delivering the Sustainable Development Goals as well as the Global Biodiversity Framework.World Wetlands Day on 2 February 2024 is celebrated to raise awareness about wetlands to reverse their rapid loss and encourage actions to conserve and restore them. Let us save Wetlands otherwise we are doomed. Warm wishes on World Wetlands Day to everyone.
(The author is Professor Statistics at S K University Of Agriculture Sciences & Technology-SKUAST Kashmir . The views, opinions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the author and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”.)
