Source: DTE
Context: The Hokersar wetland, a Ramsar site in the Kashmir Valley, has witnessed a sharp decline in migratory bird populations due to an 81% rainfall deficit in the region.
About Hokersar Wetland:
- Location:
- Situated in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, within the northwest Himalayan biogeographic province.
- Receives water from Doodhganga River, a tributary of Jhelum.
- Ecological Importance:
- Known as the ‘Queen Wetland of Kashmir’, it is the only site with remaining reedbeds of Kashmir.
- Acts as a pathway for 68 waterfowl species, including Little Cormorant, Common Shelduck, and endangered White-eyed Pochard.
- Provides food, spawning grounds for fish, and feeding and breeding habitats for migratory birds.
- Biodiversity:
- Hosts over 232 bird species and shelters 2 million migratory waterfowl annually.
- Attracts birds from Siberia, Central Asia, and Europe.
- Threats:
- Rainfall Deficit: Reduced water levels due to insufficient rainfall.
- Habitat Degradation: Encroachments, illegal sewage dumping, and mining activities.
- Illegal Mining: Increased stream widths and silt deposition have harmed the wetland ecosystem.
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