The Hygam Wetland Conservation Reserve, a key ecological site in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, is experiencing severe degradation, locals said here on Wednesday.
Once a thriving habitat for migratory birds and a source of livelihood for local communities, the locals as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that the wetland is now largely barren, with dried grass and fallen vegetation replacing its once-vibrant ecosystem.
Covering an area of 16,000 kanals, the wetland has been impacted by unchecked encroachment and a lack of effective management.
Areas that were once home to diverse flora and fauna have been converted into playgrounds and plantations.
This transformation has disrupted the delicate balance of the ecosystem, leaving it unable to support the species that once depended on it, including migratory birds.
The local residents, who once relied on the wetland for resources such as chestnuts, Nadroo, and fish, are now facing economic hardship. “The wetland used to provide us with everything we needed for our daily life, but now, there’s nothing left,” said Aftab Ahmed, a local fisherman. “We are struggling to find ways to make a living.”
This has exacerbated the situation, as conservation efforts appear to have been neglected, despite significant funds allocated for the wetlands protection.
“The decline of the Hygam Wetland is a direct result of poor administration and lack of accountability,” Mujeeb Ahmad, a local said. “We have seen similar destruction in the past, and it is crucial that the authorities take immediate action before it is too late,” he said.
Migratory birds, which have used the wetland as a stopover for centuries, have disappeared entirely. “The birds are gone,” said Parveen Akhtar, a local environmental activist. “This wetland used to be their home, but now it’s a wasteland. It’s heartbreaking.”
The locals have urged environmental conservation authorities and the local administration to take immediate action to restore it.
Meanwhile, the Environmental Policy Group (EPG) in its recent report has also revealed the alarming environmental degradation of the Hygam Wetland Conservation Reserve.
It demanded a comprehensive inquiry and urgent restoration efforts to prevent further ecological loss—(KNO)