Maintaining green cover is essential
Large scale urbanization and infrastructure expansion across Kashmir is leading to depletion of forest cover at a rapid pace. This phenomenon is leaving an indelible mark on the environment in Kashmir as we are witnessing tremendous season and weather pattern changes.
As of now Kashmir’s green cover has witnessed a noticeable retreat. The region has lost around 200 square kilometers of tree cover since the early 2000s, with 40 square kilometers lost between 2021 and 2023 alone.
Over the last decade, large stretches of forest and tree cover across the Valley have fallen to the growing pressure, raising serious concerns about the region’s environmental future.
Official data from the Forest Survey of India shows that while Jammu and Kashmir recorded a marginal increase in overall forest area over the past ten years, recent assessments point to a decline in several parts of Kashmir. Between 2021 and 2023, the Union Territory lost around 40 square kilometres of forest cover, much of it from areas facing rapid urbanisation and infrastructure expansion.
Notably-roads, housing projects, tourism-related construction and encroachments near forest fringes have fragmented natural forests into smaller patches. This has weakened the forests’ ability to regulate climate, recharge water sources and support wildlife.
Independent assessments suggest that Kashmir has lost more than 200 square kilometres of tree cover since the early 2000s. Environmental experts warn that shrinking green cover is already affecting natural springs, increasing soil erosion and pushing wildlife closer to human settlements.
This is being witnessed across Kashmir as most of the water sources are running dry and the downpour across the region too has witnessed a massive change. Right now we are into mid-January and there has been no significant snowfall activity in any part of the valley.
The climate change that has set-in is resulting in rising temperatures and prolonged dry spells. This leads to increased frequency of forest fires, damaging thousands of hectares of woodland in recent years. Officials admit that fire incidents are becoming harder to control due to changing weather patterns.
Just yesterday forest fires have been reported from various forest compartments in north Kashmir and the things can grow even worse as no major downpour is expected in the region even during the coming week or so.
Scientists and activists in Jammu and Kashmir have been warning that unless the green cover decline is checked, the loss could increase the risk of floods, landslides and water shortages, turning a slow environmental decline into a major crisis for the region which may be hard to tackle.
As of now we are left with no other option that to stress on increasing the green cover by resorting to reforestation programs and initiatives to plan and aim at planting close to a million trees by the next five years.
Besides, the people also need to be made aware about resorting to sustainable energy alternatives by promoting fuel-efficient stoves and renewable energy sources. This can help to reduce some pressure on forests.
