People's perception of the impacts of drivers of degradation on Hokersar Wetland in Kashmir Himalaya

Abstract

Hokersar wetland is endowed with diverse flora and fauna, which deliver vast socio-economic and environmental values. However, this wetland is exposed to severe degradation due to various anthropogenic factors, which impose major constraints on conservation planning. The study was carried out to assess the impacts of anthropogenic drivers of degradation on Hokersar wetland in the Kashmir Himalaya and suggest conservation strategies. Multi-stage random sampling was the procedure employed to select the villages (10) and the households (195). Structured interviews, focus group discussions, and non-participant observations were used to gather data. The findings indicated that the most effective driver of wetland degradation is pollution inputs (fertilizer, sediment, human sewage, pesticides, animal waste, etc.) (WMS, 2.89) which was followed by expansion for agriculture (WMS, 2.08), population growth/encroachment (WMS, 1.93), ambiguous property rights (WMS, 1.87), poverty/subsistence/unemployment (WMS, 1.76), livestock grazing/fodder extraction (WMS, 1.71), governmental apathy (WMS, 1.64), lack of awareness about the importance of wetlands (WMS, 1.53), fuel wood/pole collection (WMS, 1.2), and disturbance by tourism (WMS, 1.1). The percentage contribution of drivers to wetland degradation varied from 6.24% to 16.32%, with the maximum being pollution inputs (fertilizer, sediment, human sewage, pesticides, animal waste, etc.) and the lowest being disturbance by tourism. The influences of anthropogenic activities on wetland degradation assessed in this research will be the basis for future planning and establishing wetland-friendly environment with a view to reduce negative impacts of the drivers of degradation on Hokersar wetland.