A case study of Hygam Wetland
Wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems in the world, comparable to rain forests and coral reefs. An immense variety of species of microbes, plants, insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds, fish and mammals can be part of a wetland ecosystem. The role of the wetlands is critical as a habitat for wildlife. For instance, they act as a refuge to thousands of migratory and local birds.
The Kashmir valley in Jammu and Kashmir has a large number of wetlands. However, their ecological and socio-economic values were rarely explored. The present study was carried out in Hygam Wetland Reserve by Bilal Bashir Bhat. The wetland contribute significantly to the livelihoods of local communities.
Rakh Hygam is a Village in Sopore Tehsil in Baramulla District of Jammu & Kashmir State, India. It is located 22 KM towards North from District headquarters Baramulla, 40 KM from State capital Srinagar and 5 kms from Sopore.
The total areas of Hygam wetland was 754 Hectares i.e. 14905 kanals in 1969 (Bilal Bashir Bhat 2015-2018) but it remained only 533.6 hectares i.e. 10548.43 kanals now (2011). The reaming 221 hectares i.e. 4368 Kanals was encroached by the surroundings 14 catchment areas and converted it into agricultural, Horticultural and vegetables gardens.
Hygam wetland/reserve provides suitable habitat for resident birds and an excellent stop over for thousands of migratory birds visiting from Central Asia, Siberia, N. Europe and china. The shallow water of the wetland provides a variety of macrophyte and marsh lands provide congenial ecological niche for both the migratory and residential birds.
Hygam wetland which is included in the Indian bird conservation network on an average receives nearly 300,000 migratory birds, ducks and waterfowl species. Being an important breeding site for the birds and refuge over a dozen species of shorebirds and several Trans-Himalayans species. But due to Heavy siltation and encroachment the migratory birds population visiting here are decreased rapidly.
The Hygam wetland is a major wintering area for thousands of migratory ducks where both common, rare and vulnerable species are found. Some of them are as under:
- Ferruginous Duck or White eyed Pochard (Near Threatened):
Ferruginous Duck prefers quite shallow fresh water bodies with rich submerged and floating vegetation with dense stands of emergent vegetation on the margins. The favorable Habitat was provided by the Kashmiris wetlands like Hokersar and Hygam. But the increased siltation and human encroachment in these wetlands leads in their declining population.
The breeding of the Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca occur in the smaller wetlands of Kashmir, particularly at Hygam.
- Palla’s Fish –Eagle or Band tailed Fish eagle (Vulnerable):
The Pallas Fish –eagle Haliaeetus leucoryphus has not been seen in the last 12 years, (Bilal Bashir Bhat (2015 - 2018) although earlier records reported up to five individuals. Pallas fish eagle breeds in India, Myanmar, Bhutan and lesser in Hokersar and Hygam Wetlands.
The diet of Pallas fish eagle consists of fresh water fishes and some water birds, which was abundant in number in Kashmiris wetlands like Hokersar and Hygam. But due to increased siltation, pollution and draining of fishing leads to the wipe out their population from Hygam Wetland.
Reasons of Decline of Ferruginous Duck or White eyed Pochard and Pallas Fish Eagle in Hygam Wetlands.
- The species is threatened by the degradation and destruction of its favored habitats by anthropogenic causes, which are very wide and varied including the pollution, siltation, encroachment and mismanagement.
- Increased disturbance by the fishing and fishing boats poaching, killings cause’s disturbance by breeding or abandonment of the breeding sites or disturb the timing of breeding.
- Ferruginous Ducks or white eyed Pochard are also threatened by hunting and large numbers are shot on passage in the autumn and in the wintering areas.
- Hygam reserve was called the game reserve for duck shooting, so this is another reason of declining the Ferruginous ducks in Hygam wetland.
- In Kashmir wetlands and lakes increasing growth water Hyacinth and reed beds due to increased siltation and eutrophication makes finding prey difficult for the Pallas Fish eagle.
- Humans contribute to the decline of these species through habitat destruction, pollution, and draining of over fishing.
- Another reason of decaling the population of these migratory birds is the construction of the road alongside the Bund (Hartar to Naidkhai) in Hygam Wetland. The proposed road would in all probability result in the abandonment of the breeding sites of these Migratory birds.
- The intensive reed cuttings which destroys their habitat is another reason for the declining of these migratory bird populations.