In a corner of Kupwara, native fish disappear with the changing climate

As Nallah-e-Mawer dwindles into a threadbare stream, the lives of those dependent on fishing in these waters are being upendedKupwara, Jammu and Kashmir: Atop the snow-capped Kazinag Peak at an elevation of 15,007 ft is the Kazinag Spring and Satkhol Nag, which feeds Nallah-e-Mawer that winds through Kupwara district. Once a vibrant water body, Nallah-e-Mawer now resembles a threadbare stream.“The water level is so low that one can barely pass through with shoes on. How can we expect to find fish in such shallow water? I am fed up with this job. It is a waste of effort and time,” fretted Showkat Rasool Wani (29) from Handwara, a town in Kupwara district.“For the last three years, I have been catching only 1.5 kg of fish per day. Five years ago, this was more than five kg in just a few hours,” he added.“I cannot bear to see this low water level. My childhood and dreams are intertwined with it… Even a decade ago, it was a good time as Nallah-e-Mawer had ample water. I used to catch more than five kg of fish in a day," said Mohammad Raja Akbar (40), a former fisherman from Mawer in Kupwara. “Due to high shortage and low yield, I started a shop in my locality where I sell everyday items and some agricultural products.”   (Left) Raja Akbar, former fisherman from Mawer talking about low yield and (right) Dr Chalkoo explains the ideal environment for Kashir gaad (Photo - Sourced by Khursheed Ahmad Shah, 101Reporters)Locally known as Kashir gaad, Schizothorax (snow trout) genus of fish comprises species such as Schizothorax niger (ael gaad), Schizothorax esocinus (chirru), Schizothorax labiatus (chush), Schizothorax curvifrons (satter gad) and Schizothorax plagiostomus (khont). “They are no longer found in the upper reaches of Nallah-e-Mawer due to low water levels. They survive only in the lower belts where some water remains,” Dr Salman Rauoof Chalkoo, Assistant Director of Fisheries, Kupwara, told 101Reporters.The primary fish species now found in Nallah-e-Mawer are rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and brown trout (Salmo trutta). Rainbow trout inhabit the lower-lying areas of the stream. As a sport fish, it tends to move against the current, always striving to reach higher elevations.“Various species of Schizothoracinae [snow barbels] also inhabited Nallah-e-Mawer once. We also had Glyptothorax sp. and Triplophysa sp., which were not commercially important. They inhabited creeks, the areas where stream water subsides and collects, as in the case of drainage channels. All these are no longer present in this river due to climatic changes,” noted Chalkoo.Across North Kashmir, fishermen have observed a drastic reduction in their daily catch of Schizothorax, with some reporting an 80% decline — from eight to 10 kg per day to just one kg. Several factors, such as habitat destruction, water pollution and invasive species, have turned Nallah-e-Mawer, the main tributary of River Pohru, into a lifeless waterbody, but the primary drivers are climate change and anthropogenic pressures. As a result, species diversity has decreased by 60 to 70%. While everyday consumption has shifted, cultural traditions still influence fish choices during important events. Despite low availability, there is specific demand for Kashir gaad during traditional festivals such as syundar and aqiqah.“Over 10 years ago, (suppose) the local fish markets had around 100 kg of fish available each day suppose but now it has reduced to only 20 kg,” Farooz Ahmad Bhat, Chief Scientist and Dean, Faculty of Fisheries, Sher-e Kashmir University of Agriculture Sciences and technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), told 101Reporters. With the decline in Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE), the supply of locally caught fish has decreased. As a result, people now rely more on farmed and imported fish for their daily meals.Once a lifeline for nearly 160 families, Nallah-e-Mawar no longer sustains traditional fishing livelihoods. Families have been forced to turn to agriculture, daily wage labour, small businesses and traditional handicrafts to survive. However, Chalkoo noted that this shift is not just a consequence of ecological destruction, but a reflection of the social stigma surrounding the struggling fishing trade.Nallah-e-Mawar no longer sustains traditional fishing livelihoods (Photo - Adnan Rasheed)The unwelcome human footprint  One main anthropogenic factor affecting Nallah-e-Mawer is illegal sand mining from the river for two decades, which continues even now with hand tools. This activity disrupts the natural migratory path of fish that move from lower to the upper stretches of the stream. “Fish rely on biological and chemical habitats for survival, and their migration is possible only when there is an adequate water supply,” said Aatif Qayoom, a prominent environmental journalist in Kupwara."Fish sense their surroundings through their lateral line system, which help them navigate towards suitable feeding and breeding grounds. However, illegal mining has deepened the streambed, reducing the overall water level. This decline in water volume disrupts the breeding and feeding habitats, ultimately threatening their survival," he added.When the government signs the e-auctioning agreement, a Letter of Intent is executed with the bidding stakeholders after consent from the line departments.“All of these departments, including the flood control and irrigation departments, issue conditional no-objection certificates in writing that no heavy machinery will be allowed in the auctioned areas. The extraction limit is capped at one metre, a restriction that heavy machinery cannot meet. However, contractors often exceed this limit by extracting up to three metres. Similarly, the absence of adequate checks and balances allows contractors to expand the extraction area to two to three hectares,” Chalkoo said, adding that mining reduces water levels and high temperature reduces the oxygen level in water.A social and environmental activist from Handwara, Advocate Mir Imran pointed to the widespread deforestation in the river’s catchment area, unregulated encroachments and excessive water extraction. “If these environmental challenges remain unaddressed, the region faces an impending water crisis that could alter its ecological and socio-economic landscape,” he warned.But it’s climate change that has so far had the most insidious effect on the native fish population. “Reduced glacier influx, rising temperatures, erratic precipitation, and altered hydrological cycles have affected Schizothoracinae fish species in Nallah-e-Mawer. Glacier retreat has led to diminished stream flow, causing lower water levels, higher temperatures and decreased oxygen availability, making the habitat unsuitable for cold-water fish. Increased siltation from unpredictable rainfall patterns, habitat degradation due to changing its dynamics, and prolonged dry spells have further disrupted the aquatic ecosystem, leading to the disappearance of these species,” Chalkoo noted.Over the last few years, there has been very low snowfall, higher precipitation instead of snowfall, and higher temperatures in summer, triggering faster melting of glaciers and snow. This has resulted in early high-water discharge due to higher temperatures and subsequent dryness of rivers during the summer and beyond.This isn’t just a seasonal fluctuation,” said Mukhtar Ahmad, Director of the India Meteorological Department in Srinagar. “What we’re witnessing is a long-term shift in climate. With warmer winters and declining snowfall, our water sources are under serious threat — affecting everything from farming to drinking water.”“This phenomenon alters the phenology of the ecological niche of the watercourses — particularly in terms of water quality — and leads to changes in fish behaviour and physiology. It also alters the availability of food for the fish in these watercourses. The changing water discharge, along with deteriorated water quality and habitat, affects the occurrence, abundance and distribution of fish, ultimately reducing their numbers,” explained Chief Scientist Bhat.Over the last few years, there has been very low snowfall, higher precipitation instead of snowfall, and higher temperatures in summer, triggering faster melting of glaciers and snow (Photo - Khursheed Ahmad Shah, 101Reporters)Native fish can benefit from research and policy support Every year, the Jammu and Kashmir Fisheries Development Department replenishes various water bodies with thousands of carp and trout fingerlings, ensuring the sustainability of aquatic life and supporting local fisheries in the face of dwindling native species. While kashir gaad and other native fish varieties have shown a decline in numbers over the last decades due to the change in water levels, water quality and food availability, exotic varieties like carps (major carps catla, rohu and mrigal, and minor carps grass carp, silver carp and common carp) have outnumbered the indigenous ones as the changing environment favours them, Bhat added.Comparing the growth rates of carps and trout, Chalkoo said, “Common carp has a faster growth rate and is a prolific breeder, which keeps on breeding throughout the year and on very meagre natural triggers like photo period, increase in water temperature or increase in rainfall or water levels. The fecundity of the carp is around two to 2.50 lakh eggs per kg body weight, as compared to native fish with 40,00 to 45,000 eggs per kg body weight.”However, in a significant step toward conservation, the faculty of fisheries at SKUAST-K has successfully developed technology for the seed production of Kashir gaad. This recent breakthrough has teased the potential for promoting native species as a more sustainable and ecologically balanced alternative with the right training and investment to make it economically viable for fishers.“Research is ongoing to extend this breakthrough to other indigenous fish species. The fish seed produced through these efforts is released into major water bodies, including Dal Lake and River Jhelum, helping restore natural fish populations and maintain ecological balance," said Farooz Ahmad Bhat, Dean, Fisheries, SKUAST-K.  Also considering the significant losses experienced by the fishing community, the Government of India has extended support through the National Fisheries Digital Platform (NFDP) and Pradhan Mantri-Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY).Fishermen, fisherwomen, farmers, vendors, wholesalers, and helpers can register with NFDP to get an identity card and recognition. Eligible individuals will receive financial support of up to Rs 4,500, aimed at sustaining their livelihoods during challenging times. The accumulated amount of Rs 4,500 would be disbursed to enrolled beneficiaries by the respective states/UTs at the rate of Rs 1,500 per month for three months. With an investment of over Rs 6,000 crore, PM-MKSSY is designed to provide 40 lakh micro and small fishing enterprises a formal identity, making it easier for them to access loans and credit. It also offers one-time incentives for aquaculture insurance and performance grants to boost business efficiency, improve product safety and quality, and ultimately create more jobs.This story was produced as a part of 101Reporters Climate Change Reporting Grant. Cover Photo - Fisherman's catch from the fish market (Photo - Khursheed Ahmad Shah, 101Reporters)

Women in the woods: why firewood is the ultimate favourite of rural households in Kashmir every winter

No chillai kalan period passes without women collecting firewood from nearby forests a month in advance, despite the forest department's entry restrictions       Kupwara, Jammu and Kashmir: “I prefer zyun [wood] over gas,” states Saja Begum (43) of Rajwar in Kupwara of Jammu and Kashmir. “If we rely on LPG cylinders for both cooking and room heating, they will last only for eight days,” she adds. The preference for firewood and bukharis (traditional stoves) running on it is not for cooking alone, but also for warmth during chillai kalan, the state’s intense cold spell lasting for 40 days from December 21 to January 29. Throughout the winter, bukharis operate from 7 am to 10 pm daily. Even when not cooking, villagers keep it lit for heating purposes.A woman using a traditional stove in the kitchen (Photo - Umer Farooq and Khursheed Ahmad Shah)In the villages of Hamam, Markoot, Pazalpora, Dazana, Pakhwari, Hunoora, Nowpora, Doniwari, Tangmulla, Chatoosa, Khahmoha, Braman, Lariangan, Judinambal and Naribal in Rohama block of Baramulla, approximately 65% of the population depends on firewood, either for heating or cooking, despite having LPG connections. In far-flung areas, LPG cylinders are not an option during winters as these areas remain cut-off from main towns. Though exhausting to collect, firewood is a free alternative.Typically, firewood collection to tide over chillai kalan ends by November. The village women gather one gidh, a bundle of a dozen deadwood or damaged branches, at a time and walk roughly four km up and down the forest to finish the task.  The irony is that despite having LPG cylinders, women think it is their responsibility to save every penny possible by depending mostly on firewood. They see firewood collection as their duty — a duty that comes with difficulties.Rural women are often vulnerable to musculoskeletal injuries and chronic back pain. They are more prone to neck, spinal code and knee issues. "It is important to use protective gear, wear proper footwear and adopt correct lifting practices to prevent injuries and to promote better overall health," suggests Dr Nisar Ahmad Shah, assistant professor, orthopaedics, Government Medical College, Handwara. He has treated numerous women who sustained injuries, including thorn punctures that led to infections and cases of plantar fasciitis from prolonged standing or walking on hard surfaces with heavy loads. He has also helped patients recover from spinal issues, such as disc degeneration caused by improper lifting techniques. Many women also suffer from nutritional deficiencies and fatigue. They consume rice, often thrice a day, due to their workload. Their primary source of protein a few years ago was milk. But now, only a few raise cows."Many rural women follow an unbalanced diet, which largely comprises rice, pulses and low-quality proteins, with an excessive reliance on carbohydrates. Additionally, they consume ample amounts of nun chai [traditional pink tea], which, due to its high tannin content, further impairs the absorption of essential proteins and vitamins," notes Dr Pakeeza Kauser, a government medical officer at Vodipora in Handwara.She also highlights widespread issues such as nutritional anaemia, calcium and vitamin deficiencies, and hygiene-related conditions. "Poor hygiene is a major contributor to skin infections such as scabies here," she adds.A woman carrying firewood from the forest (Photo - Khursheed Ahmad Shah, 101Reporters)Restricted access, dwindling incomeShaneena Begum (47) hails from the Kupwara Kandi belt. On average, she collects one bundle of firewood each day from the nearby forest during the collection season (from April to November, except during monsoon season). When there is an extra collection, she sells it to locals or to bakers making nanwai (local bread).  “People come in carts to buy what they need. Though the income is modest, we earn about Rs 1,200 to 1,500 in winter,” says Muneera Begum (40). “Demand is especially high during winter and wedding seasons when firewood is needed for cooking wazan [wedding feast],” she adds.However, the supply has been going down gradually since the 1980s, due to the restrictions on entering the forest. It became more pronounced after the abrogation of Article 370.Dr Humaira Qadri, an environmentalist and associate professor at Government Boys Degree College, Baramulla, tells 101Reporters that conflicts between local communities and forest guards are on the rise, with sometimes women denied access to forest resources. “In Kashmir, the women who collect firewood are mostly rural and indigenous people from communities that have relied on forest resources for generations, particularly in the regions of Kupwara, Bandipora, Baramulla and Anantnag. However, their rights to these forests are ambiguous and unrecognised," she details."The Forest Rights Act, 2006, legally grants scheduled tribes and other traditional forest dwellers the right to access, use and manage forest resources sustainably. However, its implementation in Jammu and Kashmir has been delayed and remains inconsistent due to a lack of awareness and various other reasons,” she adds.Defending the restrictions, Abdul Qayoom Sofi, Block Forest Officer, Jhelum Valley Forest Division, Baramulla, tells 101Reporters that the forest department had to take measures as women stomp on fresh saplings, effectively destroying them. “Moreover, flocks of livestock entering the forest can stop plant growth and regeneration.”  Touching on the issue of firewood shortage in the region, he notes, “When firewood is unavailable in the compartments, we try to intervene and prevent harm. Without this intervention, many women, frustrated by the scarcity of resources, take matters into their own hands and begin lopping off conifers. Unfortunately, this practice dries out the trees and causes them to die.”   Sofi highlights the importance of adhering to regulations under Section 26(1) of the Indian Forest Act, 1927, which aims at protecting the forest ecosystem. “The restrictions are strictly enforced for anyone carrying sharp tools," he adds.According to Qadri, such restrictions have mainly affected low-income families. "A decade ago, the cost of one bundle of firewood ranged from Rs 30 to 50, but due to government restrictions and checkpoints, the availability is low. They cannot collect enough or make enough money by selling it, even though the price has gone up to Rs 100-120 in Baramulla, and Rs 150-180 in parts of Kupwara, such as Putushai Lolab,” she notes. The forest department provides wood for Rs 750 per 100 kg for commercial purposes and Rs 335 for hammams (traditional steam bath) in religious places. These logs require additional labour for transportation and for breaking them down into usable small pieces. It also needs official documentation and approval, which takes months together."At present, we provide firewood only to mosques located in municipal or town areas. Even then, the department is not able to fulfil the exact demand of firewood... Only a limited quantity of conifer firewood is extracted and sold... If its commercialisation is allowed, it may put additional pressure on the forests, resulting in their depletion,” Tanveer Ahmad Malik, Block Forest Officer, Nowgam Mawer (Langate range), Kupwara, tells 101Reporters.Though it is believed that women's firewood income is affected by the forest department's sale, Malik believes the real reason is the increasing use of byproducts of horticulture and agriculture instead of firewood in urban areas, and in some rural regions. No chillai kalan period passes without wood (Photo - Umer Farooq)Conifers and energy efficiency“The challenges faced by those collecting firewood vary greatly depending on the type of forest — whether it is a thorny or coniferous forest,” Sajad Ahmad Tantry, Block Forest Officer, Baderkali, Rajwar Forest Range. In any local economy, broad-leaved varieties are important as they provide fuel, fodder for livestock, and manure for agriculture. However, human intervention has often replaced broad-leaved varieties with conifers, which have more commercial value and can be grown for export. "In Kashmir, conifers such as deodar, fir, and pine have traditionally dominated temperate forests due to climate and altitude suitability, and also due to commercial timber value. The broad-leaved trees growing mostly in the lower altitudes include chinar, poplar and walnut, which are significant for the local economy by providing fuel, fodder and agricultural benefits. There are undeniable instances, particularly during afforestation drives of the Department of Social Forestry, when conifers are prioritised. Most restoration strategies favour conifers due to their fast growth and commercial utility, occasionally neglecting the ecological benefits of broad-leaved trees," explains Qadri.According to her, broad-leaved species in lower altitudes have been impacted by urbanisation, developmental activities, timber smuggling and agricultural expansion over the years. "Very little effort has been taken to restore broad-leaved species," she notes.Dry conifers are good for kindling a fire, but their energy efficiency is not as good as deciduous trees as they are less dense and have softer wood. "Conifers, with lower wood density and higher resin content, burn faster and typically generate 14-17 million BTUs per cord. In contrast, deciduous hardwoods are denser, burn slower and provide more sustained heat, delivering over 20 million BTUs per cord. So, deciduous trees are more efficient for long-term heating and cooking. The preservation of broad-leaved varieties in the lower altitudes can provide an all-time solution to the deforestation and encroachment of the conifer wealth," Qadri says. In this context, Qadri advocates for energy-efficient chulas (stoves) that can produce more energy from the same amount of wood. “This can eventually reduce wood consumption, conserve natural resources and lessen environmental impacts.” A gradual shift from overdependence on firewood is already noticed in places like Baramulla, where Turkish bukharis are becoming popular. As against the traditional tin-made bukharis, they are made of iron and can heat up the place better. In addition, they have compartments for cooking. Rather than firewood, biomass — including dried leaves and other tree remnants — can be used to run them.  Tariq Ahmad Chalkoo, a physics tutor at Government Boys Degree College and coordinator of the college's Bio Resource Innovative Cell, is analysing the potential of forest biomass. “Our innovation cell could process biomass [fallen branches, leaves, pinecones and other organic debris] into high-energy resources to make fire bricks that can conserve heat and produce electricity,” says Chalkoo, who is seeking an initial investment of Rs 1 crore to get the project off the ground. Besides reducing dependence on forests locally, the firebricks can be exported, especially to Europe, where the demand for biomass-based products is high.   In the meantime, Kulsum Ahad, a scholar working on women empowerment and rural development in the Department of Social Work at the University of Kashmir, suggests creation of community-managed woodlots, formation of women self-help groups and provisions for better access to financial support and markets to improve the lives of women.All these might take time, so for now, women take the rugged and muddy paths to the forest most of the days. “We start the day with a warm cup of nun chai, before proceeding to the woods. Every step must be taken carefully as there is a constant threat from bears and leopards. A wrong move on these hills could cost us our lives,” says Hafiza Begum (44) from Lolab in Kupwara.Her friend Saleema Begum (42) describes how they ward off fear by constant chattering. “We just go on and on about village events, weddings, about syun [cuisine dishes], etc.” “Talking about our neighbours and village events takes our minds off the danger,” she says, finding comfort in the simple joys of community life. Edited by Rekha PulinnoliCover Photo - A woman using firewood for cooking. (Photo - Umer Farooq)