SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir is home to 404 wetlands, covering an area of 164,110 hectares, according to the National Wetland Decadal Change Atlas published by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). This highlights the state’s considerable role in preserving vital ecosystems.
The conservation of these wetlands is a crucial aspect of the broader national initiative to protect water bodies and their surrounding environments. The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change has implemented various strategies to safeguard and restore these wetlands. Alongside this, Jammu and Kashmir’s wetlands are also under the ambit of the Ministry’s Save Wetlands Campaign, which focuses on improving the health of these wetlands through ground-truthing, creating awareness, and maintaining cleanliness.
While the state is actively involved in protecting its natural habitats, there is also a push for broader forest and tree conservation efforts. Jammu and Kashmir, as part of the national green initiatives, contribute to the government’s plantation drives aimed at increasing forest cover and combating environmental degradation. The Union Government’s various schemes, including the National Mission for a Green India and Nagar Van Yojana, provide support to the state in advancing its environmental goals.
In addition to the conservation of wetlands, the government recently said it is focusing on restoring degraded forests and improving biodiversity across the country. This is part of a larger effort to curb deforestation and increase tree-planting activities, particularly in regions like Jammu and Kashmir, which face environmental challenges due to their unique geography and climate conditions.
