For Nature’s Sake
Inspired by his surrounding picturesque Zabarwan range Shahnawaz, a veterinarian, chose to follow his heart. He recently qualified Indian Forestry Services. Zubair Sofi tells his story
The neighbouring forests inspired Shahnawaz Ahmad Bhat, 31, to...
“Dokhas are seasonal and need to be dismantled once nomads move out”
Riding Modi wave in 2014, Lal Singh deserted Congress and joined BJP to eventually become state’s health minister. After Ms Mufti took over in 2016, he became forest minister, a ministry that is mostly...
Straining Forests
From once a self-sufficient timber producer to a major importer, Kashmir’s forest tale has many chapters written in red. Shakir Mir reports the gulf between production and consumption in the backdrop of Kashmir’s conflict-ridden...
The Forest Folklore
The battle against smuggling has made Kashmir literally beg for cheap inter-continental timber that now sustains a huge economy. With scores of compartments totally denuded and sprawling chunks under encroachment, Nayeem Rather visits three...
Burning Indifference?
A fire rages through the forests of Tral for several days, but eye witness accounts and government official statements seem poles apart. Bilal Kuchay ventures inside the aftermath of an ecological destruction
A fire that...
Tethwan: A depleting treasure
Kashmir is losing its rich biodiversity to unplanned development, however, a programme by KU’s botany department is helping revive some medicinal plants. Baseera Rafiquee reports
Kashmir has rich biodiversity in flora and fauna and is...
For a greener pasture
The nomadic Gujjars and Bakerwals have been migrating to greener pastures every year to rear their sheep and cattle. For centuries they have kept their occupation and their lifestyle. Aliya Bashir reports
While grazing the...
Wedded to wood
Lolab, literally the waters of love, is one of the most beautiful places in Kashmir inhabited by beautiful, hardworking people mired in tradition and living in traditional houses. Hamidullah Dar reports
The hardworking people inhibiting...
Forest Encroachments
Jammu and Kashmir regions have encroached upon 9482 hectors and 4877.62 hectors of land respectively. Since2005-06, the Forest Ministry has retrieved 64.30 hectors and 944.97 hectors of forests land from encroachers in the respective...
The only job
Almost all the young men of a forest village in Baramulla district indulge in timber smuggling, while the dealers make huge profits they continue to languish in poverty, and ignorance. Waseem Ahad reports
Every morning...
Denuding Kashmir
Timber smuggling fuelled by a construction boom is causing widespread destruction to the forests in Kashmir in the absence of a coherent forest policy and effective watch and ward. Athar Parvaiz reports.
While the construction...
Changing climate, changing life
Changing lifestyle and heavy influx of tourists is putting the fragile ecology of Ladakh region under stress, which is already witnessing the negative effects of climate change. Athar Parvaiz discusses some ways out.
The combined...
Caught in the storm
Beaten first by rough weather, the year has been tough for Gujjar nomads, with the long shutdown adding to their woes. Ikhlaq Qadri reports.
Herding their flocks in the mountains far away from plains, Gujjar...
