1. INTRODUCTION Wular Lake is located 34 km northwest of Srinagar city at an altitude of 1,570 mts a.m.s.l between 34 0 17’ 45” to 34 0 25’ 30” N and 74 0 31’ 40” to 74 0 40’ 15” E. It is elliptical in shape with a maximum length of 16 km and breadth of 7.6 km. The lake is surrounded by high mountainous ranges on the northeastern and northwestern sides, which drain their runoff through various nallahs, prominent being Erin and Madumati. On the eastern and southern sides are the low lying areas of Sonawari which used to get inundated almost every year until numerous criss-crossing embankments were constructed along River Jhelum. The lake area thus reclaimed has in the recent past been brought under cultivation of paddy and plantations of willow, poplar and fruit trees. On the western side in the Sopore-Watlab section, low lying areas have also been brought under paddy cultivation. On the eastern side of the lake is an island which was raised and shaped by a famous ruler of Kashmir, Zainul-Abidin, who ruled Kashmir from 1420-1470 AD. Wular is a shallow lake with a maximum depth of 5.8m. The lake area as per demarcation carried out is 130 Sqkm. Wular with its associated wetlands supports rich biodiversity and provides important habitats for migratory water birds within Central Asian Flyway. The lake is the largest fisheries resource in Kashmir valley supporting livelihoods of large human population living along its fringes. Regulation of hydrological regimes of the basin through Wular and its associated wetlands protects the Kashmir valley from floods as well as maintains flows to support agriculture and hydropower generation. The wetland also generates revenue to the state government through harvesting of water chestnuts, which grow profusely in the lake area. The catchments of the lake support coniferous forests, alpine pastures and orchards, adding to the natural grandeur of the wetland. Recognizing importance of the wetland for its biodiversity and socioeconomic values, the lake was designated as wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention in 1990. 2. WISE USE The concept of wise use is central to the implementation of the Ramsar Convention, recognizing the interdependencies of people and their environment. Wise use of wetlands is the maintenance of their ecological character, achieved through the implementation of ecosystem approaches, within the context of sustainable development (Ramsar 2007 Handbook 1, Ramsar COP9 DOC.6) Ecosystem approaches refers to the planning processes for promoting the delivery of wetland ecosystems benefits and services, and implemented in the context of the maintenance or enhancement of wetland ecological character. Development of an integrated management plan, effective monitoring and information exchange, underpin the implementation of the Conventions wise use principles, and provides the basis for this Wular Lake (Ramsar site) Management Plan. 1 3. FORMATION & ALIGNMENT OF LAKE The valley of Kashmir is believed to be a huge palaeo-lake during Pleistocene period called Satisar which got drained out through Baramulla and gave birth to a series of low level water bodies and wet lands with only one central drainage channel of the river Jhelum. It is a part of Indus River system which flows through India and Pakistan before merging with River Chenab and subsequently into Indus river before draining into Arabian Sea. It finds its origin from a deep spring at Verinag, located in the south eastern side of Kashmir at the foot of the Pir Panjal mountain range. It gets widened as it flows in characteristic loops and meandering curves through the heart of Srinagar until it merges with the Wular Lake. After emerging out from Wular lake, the river is known as Out Fall Channel (OFC) and is joined by Ningal nallah just downstream of Wular lake on its southern bank. Ningal rises in the Apharwat peak above Gulmarg. The Pohru stream meets the OFC at its northern bank at Doabgah. About 15 kms downstream, Doabgah onwards, the river is joined by Mundri and other streams of Buniyar along its southern bank and Limber, Dakil and Vij streams on its northern bank. The OFC flows in between high banks upto Baramulla and through high mountains thereafter. Then onwards the river Jhelum enters the Khadanyar gorge and follows a westerly course for 120 kms joining Kishanganga, which arises from the eastern end of Tilail Valley and flows through Gurez and Dawar before meeting Jhelum at Domail in Muzaffarabad. Below Muzaffarabad Jhelum turns southwards and meets river Chenab at Jhang in Pakistan. The river Chenab, thereafter, continues to flow till it meets Indus at Panjnail in Pakistan. The river finally joins the Arabian Sea. Location of Jhelum sub- basin within Indus basin 2 4. DESCRIPTION OF RIVER JHELUM BASIN Wular and associated wetlands form a part of River Jhelum basin, which is a sub basin of Indus River. The trans-national basin extends to an overall area of 33,300 sqkm within India and Pakistan and covers 3% of the overall Indus Basin area. Khadanyar Gorge, a geological fault zone and location of distinct changes in hydrological regimes divides the Jhelum basin into two segments. The upper segment of the basin extending to an area of 12,777 sq km drains the entire Kashmir Valley. The six watersheds with an area of 1,144 sq km of this Jhelum basin drain directly into the lake forming its direct catchments. The entire Jhelum Basin including the direct catchments is highly degraded and contributes to heavy load of silt into Wular leading to its shrinkage and reduced water depth. Wular lake within Jhelum basin The basin is bowl shaped forming an elongated depression between the Great Himalayas in the north east and the Pir Panjal ranges in the south west. The Pir Panjal ranges separate the basin from the great plains of Northern India whereas the Great Himalayas separate the valley from Ladakh. The highest mountain peaks enclosing the basin have an elevation of more than 5,300 m amsl on the Great Himalayan side and more than 5,500 m amsl on the Pir Panjal side. Important 3 peaks surrounding the basin are Nanga Parbat and Tosh Maidan in the north; Mahadev, Gwash Brari and Amarnath in the South; Kazi Nag on the north west and Harmukh on the east. The physiographic features of the basin change rapidly with the altitude. At the topmost fringe of the basin are the glaciers which serve as the main source of water for the basin. Forests are mainly located between 1650 – 3500 m amsl, with distinct species changes along with the altitudinal gradient. Deodar – kail forests are located within 1650 – 2600 m amsl, followed by the Fir forests found within 2600 – 3500 m amsl. Tree line on the upper fringes of southern and south western forests is dotted with alpine pastures locally termed as margs. Gujjers and Bakkerwals, nomadic tribes raising livestock for sustenance dot these pastures. Tangmarg, Gulmarg, Khilanmarg and Sonmarg are the principal pastures within the basin. During the spring when the snow melts, flowers of all colours appear in the margs creating a stunning panorama of colours. The rest of the basin area forms a vast plain consisting of Kashmir valley and its four side valleys, namely the Lolab, Lidder, Sind and Kishenganga. With an area of 4,865 sq km and altitude ranging from 1400 – 1650 m amsl, the Kashmir Valley is the demographic and economic hub of the basin, inhabited by more than 85% of its total population The Karewas (Wudars) are the unique physical feature of the Kashmir Valley. These are flat topped terraced features, developed in morainic deposits of the Pleistocene glaciation. Primarily freshwater deposits found as low flat mounds or elevated plateaus, the Karewas are formed of clay, sands and silt of lacustrine origin. The Karewas account for nearly 50% of the overall valley area and extend from Kulgam in the south east to Baramulla. The Karewas on the left bank of River Jhelum are extensive and massive till the Northern west end, whereas they are quite few in number and smaller in extension on the right bank. These alluvial land features provide conducive environment for growth and development of temperate fruits including apple, almonds and walnuts, as well as saffron. The Karewas on the right bank are mostly flat topped, whereas those on the north west and west are sloping along the flanks of Pir Panjal range. River Jhelum Drainage Basin 4 Wetlands of Jhelum basin are mainly of three different types with respect to their origin, altitudinal situation and nature of biota they contain. Basically all are high altitude wetlands (altitude 1585- 4000 m amsl) as compared to those located in the plains of India (altitude <500 m amsl). The first series of the lakes (Alipathar, Sheshnag, Kounsarnag, Tar Sar, Mar Sar, Vishansar, Gangbal, Kishna Sar, Kyo Tso, Panggong Tso, etc.) situated on the inner Himalayas between 3000 – 4000 m amsl altitude are glaciated lakes which have probably originated during the third Himalayan glaciation. The second series of lakes (Nilnag) are present in the lower fringes of Pir Panjal ranges and have come into existence due to tectonic activities. They occupy the latitudinal ranges between 2000 to 2500 m amsl right in the midst of pine forests. The third series designated as the valley lakes (Dal, Anchar, Mansbal etc.) situated at the altitudinal zone of 1585 – 1600 m amsl are the valley lakes which occur all along the course of river Jhelum. Almost all the wetlands in Kashmir are longitudinally and altitudinally interconnected. Most of the tributaries of Jhelum originate from glaciated lakes and govern the base flow of the river.