Taqwa shafi
Srinagar, June 25: With glaciers shrinking, wetlands disappearing and forests facing mounting pressure, environmental experts, retired bureaucrats, scientists and civil society members came together in Srinagar on Thursday to deliberate on the urgent need to protect Jammu and Kashmir’s fragile ecology. The day-long seminar, titled “Protection of Natural Environment in Jammu & Kashmir,” was organised by the Group of Concerned Citizens (GCC) at the Institution of Engineers (India), Church Lane, Sonwar. The event aimed to formulate practical policy recommendations for addressing the Union Territory’s growing environmental challenges.
The seminar brought together former senior civil servants, defence officials, environmental scientists, conservationists and policymakers who unanimously stressed that Jammu and Kashmir stands at a critical ecological crossroads. Speakers warned that rapid urbanisation, climate change, illegal mining, encroachments and unplanned development are threatening the region’s natural wealth.
The inaugural session began with a welcome address by Latief-uz-Zaman Deva (Retd IAS), Vice Chairman of GCC, followed by an introduction from Khurshid Ahmed Ganai (Retd IAS), Chairman of GCC. Delivering the inaugural address, former Union Government Secretary M.K. Ranjitsinh (Retd IAS) highlighted the importance of balancing development with environmental conservation, stating that protecting natural ecosystems is essential for ensuring long-term economic and social sustainability.
The technical session, moderated by environmental expert Er. Iftikhar A. Hakim, featured a series of presentations addressing key environmental concerns confronting Jammu and Kashmir.
Former Director General (Quality Assurance), Army Headquarters, Lt Gen R.S. Reen (Retd) opened the technical deliberations with a presentation titled “G2G: Glaciers to Garbage. The Crisis We Can’t Ignore.” He underlined how climate change is accelerating glacier retreat while poor waste management continues to degrade Kashmir’s landscapes and water bodies.
The discussion on water resources, wetlands, glaciers and river basin management was jointly presented by Er. Iftikhar A. Kakroo, Member of the State Water Regulatory Authority, and Dr Yasir Altaf, Assistant Professor at IUST. They emphasised the need for integrated management of river systems and restoration of wetlands, describing them as critical natural buffers against floods, biodiversity loss and water scarcity.
Environmental scientist Dr Majid Farooq from the Directorate of Ecology, Environment and Remote Sensing presented the proposed Climate Action Plan for Jammu & Kashmir, outlining strategies for climate adaptation, sustainable resource management and institutional preparedness to deal with increasing climate-related risks.
The seminar also focused on forest conservation, with Manzoor A. Tak (Retd IFS) discussing the alarming degradation of forests across Jammu and Kashmir. He highlighted illegal felling, forest fires and habitat fragmentation as major threats to biodiversity and ecological balance.
Another important session examined the environmental consequences of illegal river-bed mining. Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat, Chairman of the J&K Climate Action Group, warned that indiscriminate extraction of sand and gravel from rivers is damaging aquatic ecosystems, destabilising riverbanks and increasing the risk of floods.
The final technical presentation by Dr Assad R. Rahmani, former Director of the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), highlighted the challenges facing wildlife conservation in Jammu and Kashmir. He called for stronger habitat protection, scientific monitoring and greater public participation in biodiversity conservation.
An interactive policy dialogue followed under the theme “Building a Resilient Jammu & Kashmir: Policy Priorities and Institutional Responses.” Moderated by Er. Iftikhar A. Hakim, the session encouraged experts, policymakers and participants to deliberate on governance reforms, environmental legislation and community participation necessary to safeguard the region’s ecological future.
The valedictory session featured addresses by Dr Upendra Kaul, Chairman of Batra Heart Centre and Founder Director of the Gauri Kaul Foundation, Lt Gen R.S. Reen and M.K. Ranjitsinh. The programme concluded with the valedictory address by Dr Karan Singh, who emphasised that environmental conservation must become a collective social responsibility rather than remaining solely a governmental obligation.
One of the major outcomes of the seminar was the announcement of the “Srinagar Declaration for Natural Environment 2026,” a document intended to serve as a roadmap for environmental protection in Jammu and Kashmir. The declaration is expected to recommend stronger environmental governance, protection of glaciers and wetlands, sustainable development practices, scientific planning and enhanced public awareness.
The seminar concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Ghulam Jeelani Nehvi (Retd IAS), who expressed gratitude to the speakers, participants and organisers for their commitment to preserving Jammu and Kashmir’s unique ecological heritage.
Environmental experts agreed that while the region faces unprecedented ecological pressures, timely policy interventions, scientific planning and active community participation can still safeguard its forests, rivers, glaciers, wetlands and wildlife for future generations. The seminar reinforced the message that protecting Jammu and Kashmir’s natural environment is not only an ecological necessity but also fundamental to the region’s economy, culture and long-term resilience.
