Multi-Stakeholder Consultation Workshop on Integrated Management of Wular Lake: Past Measures and Future Strategies

08 Aug, 2024

Wular Lake, the largest freshwater lake in India, is a vital lifeline for the people of the Kashmir Valley. It acts as a natural flood buffer while sustaining a range of livelihoods dependent on its rich wetland resources. The lake, a Ramsar Site, is also supports diverse biodiversity and serves as a crucial stopover for migratory birds along the Central Asian Flyway.

Over the past years, several management actions have been included as part of Wular’s Comprehensive Management Action Plan, 2007. This includes institutional measures such as constitution of Wular Conservation and Management Authority (WUCMA) in 2012 and hydrological interventions on dredging of critically silted areas.

To facilitate discussions on these past management actions, their effectiveness, and jointly identify future priorities and strategies for a revised integrated management plan for Wular Lake, a multi-stakeholder consultation workshop was organised in Srinagar by WUCMA in association with MoEF&CC-GIZ Technical Cooperation project ‘Wetlands Management for Biodiversity and Climate Protection’ and Wetlands International South Asia (WISA).

The workshop, with over 70 participants, was inaugurated by the Financial Commissioner and Additional Chief Secretary Forest, Dheeraj Gupta, who highlighted J&K government’s focus on restoring and revitalizing Wular Lake with special focus on the ecotourism and livelihood of the local communities.

The workshop technical session consists of presentations and discussion on measures implemented till date and the proposed Revised Framework for Wular Conservation 2024-29, followed by detailed stakeholder inputs through group exercises.

Key takeaways from discussion:

1. Review of past actions highlighted need for stronger community involvement, balancing conservation with socio-economic needs and addressing knowledge gaps.

2. Key threats - socio-political changes, ongoing siltation, invasive species and solid waste and effluent discharge.

3. Importance of inclusive governance and improved collaboration across various governmental and non-governmental organizations.

4. Research priorities to guide management – hydrology and sedimentation, fish and waterbird diversity and movement, and catchment soil erosion vulnerability.

Site level stakeholder meeting and assessment would be undertaken over the next few months to inform the Revised Framework for Wular Conservation 2024-29.

Group photo of the participants | © WUCMA

Inaugural session chaired by ACS Forests | © GIZ

Group exercise on wetland livelihoods | © WUCMA

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About the project

The Wetlands Management for Biodiversity and Climate Protection project aims to strengthen the institutional framework and capacities for an ecosystem-based integrated management of wetlands of international importance (Ramsar sites) in India. The project is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in close cooperation with the National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA). This project is part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI). The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) supports this initiative on the basis of a decision adopted by the German Bundestag. Read More

For more information contact: biodiv.india@giz.de