Research Projects

Wetlands are the world’s most productive environments and cradles of biodiversity. They not only support high concentrations of biodiversity, but also offer a wide range of important resources and ecological functions such as food, water, fibre, groundwater recharge, water purification, flood moderation, storm protection, erosion control, carbon storage and climate regulation. Hygam Wetland or Hygam Rakh as it is locally called, is the largest remaining reed bed in the Kashmir valley, with major ornithological importance. Being a Ramsar site, Hygam wetland is of international importance but till date no detailed scientific study particularly nutrient and pollutant loadings as well as the carbon sequestration potential (an important climate change mitigation parameter) of the wetland has been evaluated. Moreover, the decadal change detection of the study area using RS & GIS technology has also not been carried out till date. Further, this study will also adopt a Total Economic Valuation (TEV) approach for identifying array of values that are attributed to Hygam Wetland and impact on the livelihood dependent community.