Following months of constant worrying about dwindling shorelines, barren fields, and a multitude of farmers and fishermen losing their livelihoods because of this prolonged dry spell, Kashmir finally breathed a big sigh of relief with the recent fresh batches of rain and snowfall throughout the Valley.
As well as being a significant change in weather conditions, this most recent precipitation has given our region a much-needed rejuvenation and has provided us with another life source from above.
This timely replenishment has started to reverse the worrisome depletion of our precious wetlands, thereby providing our region not only with much-needed ecological hope but adding to the spirit of a region that has always been closely linked to the natural rhythms of the land.
For a number of months, we witnessed the devastation created by our largest bodies of water; our beautiful lakes, rivers, and streams shrinking by the day due to the length of time we experienced the dry spell.
The increased level of anxiety felt by all people associated with the different professions that rely on Kashmir’s bountiful water resources, such as farmers, fishermen, those in the tourism industry, and all families who are tied to Kashmir due to its incredible wealth of water resources, was very evident.
The prolonged dry spell served as a stark reminder of not only how vulnerable we are but also how delicate is the balance of our ecosystem.
Now that we are experiencing the much-needed replenishment of our water resources, the current state of our landscape tells a different story. The soft, continuous rains that have fallen and the generous blanket of snow that has settled on our highlands throughout the Valley have produced an unparalleled example of nature’s willingness to restore itself and have provided an ever-increasing supply of our most precious resource, water.
The snowpack is a major source of fresh water for agriculture, horticulture, and perhaps most importantly drinking water when released gradually during the spring and summer seasons in the mountains will provide a reliable source of fresh water to grow crops to feed ourselves.
The rebound of our ecosystems indicates how resilient nature truly is when the opportunity arises to recover. The survival of the ecological functions of our wetlands creates a critical need for management of our water resources and a greater awareness of how climate affects the global climate change.
As we rejoice in the bounty of the snowpack, let us all come together to be responsible custodians of our planet. We need to create opportunities to protect our wetlands from becoming degraded, to prevent any further pollution to our streams and lakes and to conserve the increased amount of new freshwater.
The significant snowfall demonstrates how positive climatic changes will lead to improved economic conditions. An abundant snowfall will provide an increased amount of hydroelectric energy to be generated, high-quality crops for our agricultural producers and ultimately create the conditions for another robust tourism season when visitors can experience, rivers full of water, blooming meadows due to plentiful rain and drought recovery.
