Amid spurt in erratic weather patterns triggered by climate change, it is imperative to ensure conservation of mountain ecosystems in Jammu and Kashmir.Most of the tourist destinations in J&K are facing a threat to the fragile ecosystem due to unregulated tourist flow. Famous ski-resort Gulmarg in north Kashmir has been bearing the brunt of unregulated flow of visitors. The number of visitors exceeds the carrying capacity of the tourist destination surrounded by mountains and forests. This not only overwhelms solid waste generation but triggers rise in temperature causing rapid snow melt off and avalanches in winter.

A study has shown that there is a rise in Black Carbon levels in Gulmarg in winter due to massive movement of vehicles, snowmobiles, All Terrain Vehicles and biomass burning for heating purposes. Similarly increasing numbers of visitors, especially to Sonamarg and Pahalgam, which host major glaciers of Kashmir, are taking a heavy toll on the environment. . Thajiwas glacier in Sonamarg is retreating fast and collapsing frequently in the last several years. Kolhai glacier in Pahalgam has traces of Black Carbon emissions and has lost almost 23 percent of its area since 1962 and fragmented into smaller parts.

Kolhai glacier feeds Lidder river which is one of the main sources of river Jhelum— considered to be the lifeline of Kashmir. Kolahai is losing mass at the rate of about 1.0 m water equivalent annually, which is significantly higher than the glaciers in the rest of the Himalayas.

Most of the tourist destinations especially Gulmarg,........

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