1 week ago
Women-Led Kashmir Network Revives Wetlands, Attracting Nearly 100,000 Birds
A group of women and girls in Kashmir is working to protect wetlands where migratory birds spend part of the year.
The group is called the Salim Ali Birdwatchers Network, or SABN.
Its members pick up waste, watch and record birds, and teach students and local communities about nature.
They also speak out against poaching, pollution and the shrinking of wetlands.
At Chatlam wetland, the group says more than 100,000 birds arrived this season.
In earlier years, the group says fewer than 50,000 birds visited there.
The members believe their cleaning and restoration work helped, although bird numbers can change for many reasons.
Government officials say communities of all ages must help protect wetlands, while the government works on marking wetland boundaries.
The 15-member Salim Ali Birdwatchers Network was launched in January 2025 as Jammu and Kashmir’s first women-led birding network.
Members clean wetlands, document birds, conduct school visits and run awareness campaigns against poaching, pollution and encroachment.
The group estimates that more than 100,000 migratory birds visited Chatlam wetland this season, compared with fewer than 50,000 in earlier years.
Official data cited in the article says more than 7,600 kanal of Kashmir marshland has been lost to encroachment.
The Jammu and Kashmir government has begun demarcating Hokersar wetland and has called for greater public participation in conservation.
- Who
- The Salim Ali Birdwatchers Network, a 15-member group of women and girls, along with local volunteers and government officials.
- What
- The network is cleaning and restoring wetlands, documenting migratory birds, and conducting conservation and awareness activities.
- Where
- The work is taking place in Kashmir, including Chatlam wetland in Pampore and Hokersar wetland near Srinagar.
- When
- SABN was launched in January 2025; its members conduct regular, including Sunday, activities.
- Why
- The group aims to protect wetlands and migratory birds from poaching, pollution, habitat degradation and encroachment.
Community Conservation View
Cautious and Official View
Cause of the bird increase
Community Conservation View
SABN believes its cleaning and restoration work helped make Chatlam wetland more hospitable, contributing to the reported increase in migratory birds.
Cautious and Official View
The network acknowledges that bird numbers can be influenced by several factors, so the increase cannot be attributed solely to its activities.
How wetlands should be protected
Community Conservation View
SABN members argue that conservation must become a community effort involving students, residents, villages and volunteers, rather than relying only on experts or government action.
Cautious and Official View
Wildlife officials emphasize broad public participation while the government pursues formal measures, including wetland boundary demarcation and stronger protection.
Key facts
- Network
- Salim Ali Birdwatchers Network, or SABN
- Launch
- January 2025, at Chatlam Wetland Reserve in Pampore
- Membership
- 15 women and girls; the network began with 13 members
- Reported bird increase
- More than 100,000 migratory birds visited Chatlam this season, compared with fewer than 50,000 in earlier years, according to a founding member
- Wetland loss
- More than 7,600 kanal, or 385.7 hectares, of marshland has reportedly been lost to encroachment
- Hokersar encroachment
- The Wetlands Division reportedly identified 3,784 kanal of encroachment at Hokersar
- Education project
- Alimah Hamid is compiling Birds of Paradise, a school resource covering more than 50 migratory bird species
Quotes
Altaf Hussain Dentoo
Wildlife Warden, Wetland Division, Jammu and Kashmir
“"We actually wanted women to come forward and join the initiative to conserve our wetlands. Since all these women have been working voluntarily, they need to work under one banner to strengthen their mission. We just guided them and the rest they are good at their work,"”
thebetterindia.com
“"There has to be participation from all age groups to revive the natural treasures — forests, wetlands and rivers. Any human interference means a big loss to these wetlands in particular,"”
thebetterindia.com
Sources
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