92 Chapter 7 Socio-economic Status of the Region around Wular 7.1 Introduction: The lake Wular not only acts as a safety valve for the Kashmir Valley against floods but is also a key factor in maintaining biodiversity, production of food, fodder and other commercially important wetland resources. Although, the Valley used to be the most preferred picnic spot since Mughal period, it came under the threat of insurgency in 1980s. Along with these man-made conflicts, the population of the valley also has to face the calamities like floods and earthquakes. Inspite of these threats, the valley serves as a rich wetland heritage for birds, fish, vegetation and other economically profitable resources. The economic evaluation of the Wular Lake and its associated wetlands would involve understanding of the complete ecosystem of the valley and the interactions of its components in time and space. Hence, its socio-economic features include wetlands, forests, vegetation, willow plantation, waterbirds, fish production, agriculture, and horticulture. These features together have their impacts on the overall environment of the lake Wular. A major difficulty in evaluating such a complex environmental ecosystem is the insufficient information on its ecological, lithological and hydrological processes. The economic valuation is concerned with ultimately the allocation of wetland resources to improve human welfare and their wetland values. Values are ‘an estimate, usually subjective, of worth, merit, quality and importance’. These may be derived from outputs of the wetland that can be consumed
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Chapter 7
Socio-economic Status of the Region around Wular
7.1 Introduction:
The lake Wular not only acts as a safety valve for the Kashmir Valley against
floods but is also a key factor in maintaining biodiversity, production of food, fodder and
other commercially important wetland resources. Although, the Valley used to be the
most preferred picnic spot since Mughal period, it came under the threat of insurgency in
1980s. Along with these man-made conflicts, the population of the valley also has to face
the calamities like floods and earthquakes. Inspite of these threats, the valley serves as a
rich wetland heritage for birds, fish, vegetation and other economically profitable
resources.
The economic evaluation of the Wular Lake and its associated wetlands would
involve understanding of the complete ecosystem of the valley and the interactions of its
components in time and space. Hence, its socio-economic features include wetlands,
forests, vegetation, willow plantation, waterbirds, fish production, agriculture, and
horticulture. These features together have their impacts on the overall environment of the
lake Wular.
A major difficulty in evaluating such a complex environmental ecosystem is the
insufficient information on its ecological, lithological and hydrological processes. The
economic valuation is concerned with ultimately the allocation of wetland resources to
improve human welfare and their wetland values.
Values are ‘an estimate, usually subjective, of worth, merit, quality and
importance’. These may be derived from outputs of the wetland that can be consumed
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directly (such as food, recreation, timber, wildlife harvesting, fuel wood, transport) or
indirect use arising from functions occurring within the ecosystem such as water quality,
flood control, ground water recharge, shoreline stabilization, storm protection, etc. These
values may encompass future direct outputs or indirect uses, such as biodiversity or
conserved habitats, culture and heritage (Barbier, 2000).
7.2 Wetlands:
The catchments of Wular Lake are essentially linked with the entire Jhelum basin,
which extends over an area of 12,777 sq kms. The basin can be broadly classified into
following three sub catchments (Fig. 7.1).
Fig. 7.1 Catchments of the lake Wular
(Source:Comprehensive Management Action Plan, Wetlands imternational, South Asia)
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a) Wular upstream sub-catchment of river Jhelum (prior to its entry into Wular); Area
8,627 sq kms.
b) Wular direct sub-catchment (directly draining into Wular); Area 1,144 sq kms.
c) Wular downstream sub-catchment; Area 3,006 sq kms.
7.3 Forests:
The forests account for 5,348 sq km area of the river Jhelum catchment. The
forests, being temperate, are dominated by coniferous trees. Deodar (Cedrus deodara),
Kail (Pinus excelsa), Silver fir (Abies webbiana), Kachil (Picea morinda) and Birch
(Betulautilis) are the key species found in these forests. Excessive harvesting and over-
exploitation of Deodar has led to its virtual elimination and it presently comprises less
than 0.4% of the total area. The area under Deodar is presently colonized by Kail,
propagated through the Forest Department plantations in the last two decades. The
conifers form the dominant component of the canopy throughout except in certain moist
patches where deciduous species viz walnut, ash and bird cherry occur in abundance. The
tree growth ends with birch and junipers. Alpine pastures fringe the tree line at higher
altitudes.
7.4 Vegetation
Vegetation of Wular Lake is an important component of the lake ecosystem
providing both ecological and economic benefits. The communities within the lake area
have been utilizing aquatic vegetation for food, fodder and other purposes. However,
dense growth of some species has chocked the lake area, thereby, reducing water flow
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and its overall potential. Species composition, their distribution and economic importance
in the lake ecosystem is briefly highlighted in the following section.
7.4.1 Composition and distribution of different species:
Overall, 13 plant species have been reported in the Wular Lake (Kundangar,
1993). However, 24 species have been reported in the associated wetlands (Kaul &
Trisal, 1985). It means the species richness is higher in the associated wetlands as
compared to the lake proper. A list of some important species recorded from Wular and
associated wetlands are given in Table 7.1.
Table 7.1 Macrophytes in Wular Lake and associated wetlands
Alisma plantigina Phragmites communis Nelumbium nucifera