The state of Jammu and Kashmir UT, having a diverse geographic and climatic
makeup, is replete with lakes, wetlands, bogs, swamps etc. of considerably varying
physicochemical and biological characteristics. The UT of Jammu and Kashmir
houses considerably good number of small and large water bodies whereof four also
figure among Ramsar-sites list. Among a total of 1230 lakes/wetland listed in the
wetlands and water body directory, 415 lies in Kashmir, 150 in Jammu and 665 in
Ladakh. Extensive marshes have been also formed in lower areas through catchment
drainages, particularly between Srinagar and Sopore – Rakh Asham, Hokersar,
Naugam, Shallabugh, Anchar, Soibugh, Narkara, Mirgund, Malgam,
Chatlam/Kranchloo are some of the major wetlands of the valley. While as Jammu
region has five prominent wetlands namely Pargwal, Gharana, Sangral, Kukrian and
Nanga. Tso-moriri Wetland, Chushul-Hanley Marshes of Ladakh are very well known
breeding grounds of Black Necked Crane, the state bird of Jammu and Kashmir. The
famous ornithologist of India, Salim Ali once remarked “Kashmir is a heaven on earth
for migratory birds.” These migratory birds start arriving here from September and
stay till the end of February. They keep on oscillating between these water bodies at
different times during their stay in Kashmir. Most of the identified and classified
waterbodies have not been demarcated on ground as on date and as such large
portion of which has been drained and reclaimed for agriculture and settlement
purpose. Dal, Wular, Mansar, Surinsar, and Pangong are the only few which attract
the attention of one and all. Unfortunately, most of these water bodies face severe
threats of varying nature and extent.
WETLANDS OF J&K UT HAVING INTERNATIONAL IMPORTANCE UNDER RAMSAR CONVENTION
The Ramsar Sites of J&K UT namely Hokersar, Mansar, Surinsar &Tsomoriri are being
managed by State Wildlife Department whereas Wular Lake is being managed by
Wular Conservation and Management Authority.
WALUR LAKE
- Location: 34°16’N 074°33’E
- Ramsar site No: 461.
- Date of Declaration: 23/03/1990;
- Area: 18,900 h
TSOMORIRI LAKE
- Location: 32°54’N 078°18’E.
- Ramsar site no.: 1213
- Date of Declaration: 19/08/2002.
- Area: 12,000 ha.
HOKERSAR WETLAND
- Location: 34°05’N 074°42’E.
- Ramsar site no.: 1570
- Date of Declaration: 08/11/05
- Area: 1,375 ha
SURINSAR & MANSAR LAKES
- Location: Surinsar Lake : 32° 46’ 16” N, 75° 2’28” E
- Mansar Lake : 32° 41’ 52” N, 75° 8’ 40” E
- Ramsar site No.: 1573.
- Date of Declaration: 08/11/2000