by Dr Suheel Rasool Mir
Field observations have raised significant environmental concerns, including increased flash flooding, loss of agricultural land, and various other environmental hazards.
Gurez, located in the northern part of Kashmir’s Bandipora district, is renowned for its Dard ethnic identity. The Dard people have a deep-rooted connection to their land, water, and forests, viewing these elements not just as resources but as integral to their cultural identity. The health of their environment—forests, glaciers, and soil—is essential for their survival.
Today, the Dards of Gurez navigate a landscape where tradition intersects with modernity. Like many indigenous communities worldwide, they have been shaped by the dynamics of the twenty-first century. The Dardic socio-ecological landscape has undergone both positive and negative changes. While modernisation and increased connectivity have brought certain benefits, they also raise concerns about the erosion of traditional practices and ecological degradation. These concerns are often expressed with a sense of loss, as many recount the ongoing ecological challenges and threats facing their community.
The rapid expansion of unplanned tourism in the Gurez Valley has led to significant changes in the local economy and landscape. Historically reliant on agriculture – cultivating crops such as potatoes, beans, wheat, and millet—the Dards are increasingly converting their farmland into commercial properties like hotels and cafes. This shift is particularly evident in Dawar Tehsil, the heartland of Gurez Valley.
Capitalist Expansion and Its Impact
The surge in construction reflects a growing capitalist drive, where the pursuit of profit often overrides concerns for the region’s socio-ecological balance. Many residents who had previously migrated to other parts of Kashmir are returning as investors, focusing on building hotels, resorts, and infrastructure with little regard for environmental sustainability. This trend has serious consequences for the local environment and climate.
Large, industrial concrete structures are replacing traditional architectural practices in areas like Dawar, which once utilised local materials such as wood, mud, and stone. These new buildings often lack the eco-friendly features of their predecessors.
The shift towards commodification and consumerism has eroded the connection to indigenous agricultural practices and ecological heritage. Dawar, once a symbol of the Dard tribe’s identity, is increasingly integrated into a market-driven, urban economic framework. This transformation has altered the region’s socio-spatial identity, blending rural and urban elements and contributing to environmental and cultural challenges.
The Dard Valley is experiencing significant climatic and seasonal shifts that present new risks. While increased urban connectivity can offer economic benefits, this development must be managed to respect local culture and preserve the region’s ecology. Engaging the local community is essential to ensure that tourism does not adversely impact Gurez’s environment or cultural heritage.
A sophomore student from Baduab emphasised the need for development projects to prioritise the preservation of Gurez Valley’s cultural and environmental integrity. She noted, “Development should not come at the cost of the environment.”
Uncontrolled development poses various environmental risks, including alterations in water and land use in Gurez. Ajaz Ahmad Dar, a local social and environmental activist, stated, “The state administration, together with local stakeholders, must safeguard the environment and ecology of Gurez, as they are deeply intertwined with our ethnicity and identity. Tourism can indeed drive economic growth, but only if it is balanced with careful preservation of our environment, ecology, and cultural heritage.”
Elements at Risk
The borderland valley of Gurez, with its rich history of forest resources, faces significant threats from climatic changes and poorly managed tourism. The influx of unregulated tourists has intensified environmental pressure, leading to widespread degradation and posing severe risks to biodiversity. Among the most vulnerable is the local wild flora, particularly the cumin variety known locally as black zeera.
Suhail Shaheen Lone, a resident of Gurez, observed, “Many of these species are nearing extinction due to shifting climatic patterns and the large-scale disruption of traditional, eco-friendly communities. The loss of biodiversity, damage to landscapes, and alterations in physical and chemical conditions have profoundly affected local social and economic life.”
Elderly members of the Dard tribe, who are well into their eighties, argue that while development is essential, it must not come at the expense of environmental integrity. They envision a model of progress that harmoniously integrates advancement with the preservation of cultural and ecological values. They maintain that development should enhance living standards without compromising the tribe’s cultural heritage and environmental sustainability. Anwar Khan, aged 115, advocates strongly for an approach that balances respect for the environment, local customs, and ecological values.
The Double-Edged Sword
In 2023, Gurez Valley, and specifically Dawar, was celebrated as India’s “Best Offbeat Tourist Destination.” While this accolade has boosted its profile, it has also brought unintended consequences. The area, renowned for its natural beauty, is now grappling with severe environmental issues. The influx of tourists has led to increased waste, including plastic and other non-biodegradable materials, contaminating local forests, agricultural lands, and riverbanks.
The focus on tourism’s economic benefits often overshadows the environmental and social costs. The unchecked rise in waste, water pollution, and air pollution from increased transportation is undermining Gurez’s ecology. The root causes of these problems, driven by economic motivations, are largely ignored, with little attention given to the preservation of local culture and environment.
Aqeela Akhter, at just 17, stands out as a beacon of hope amid these challenges. She combines intellectual insight with a deep respect for Gurez’s ecology, advocating for responsible tourism and sustainable development. Her dedication to balancing progress with ecological preservation offers a model for others and underscores the urgent need to address the socio-ecological impact of tourism.
As Gurez transforms from a picturesque borderland into a bustling tourist hotspot, the risk of ecological degradation grows. It is imperative to address these challenges and prioritize sustainability to prevent further loss of the region’s unique environmental and cultural heritage.
Need For Critical Examination
Tahir Magray, a Master’s student in Zoology from Dawar, highlights the dual nature of tourism. “While tourism can provide economic benefits, it can also exploit ecology and the environment, turning profits into a curse for future generations. This exploitation has led to unchecked, poorly planned construction and the commodification of local communities. As concrete structures replace natural landscapes, traditional relationships with land, forests, and rivers are being disrupted.”
Field observations have raised significant environmental concerns, including increased flash flooding, loss of agricultural land, and various environmental hazards. Addressing these issues through cultural and ecological preservation could mitigate the negative effects and contribute to the region’s long-term sustainability. Effective management of tourism in Gurez requires both government action and community involvement to establish a model for sustainable eco-tourism.
The transformation of agricultural fields into hotel and commercial infrastructure creates a “ripple effect” that alters Gurez’s environment and ecology, potentially harming the indigenous Dard tribe. In the Anthropocene era, the influx of tourists becomes a key factor in socio-ecological change, affecting both the landscape and the lives of its inhabitants.
(The author is an early-career sociologist specialising in the borderlands of Kashmir and Ladakh, with a focus on the sociology of ethnicity and marginal communities. He is the author of the Cultural Encyclopedia of the Dard Tribe. Ideas are personal.)
