The Union Government’s decision to notify an Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) around the Tral Wildlife Sanctuary marks a critical intervention in the fight to preserve Kashmir’s dwindling wildlife, especially the critically endangered Hangul—also known as the Kashmir stag. ESZ will serve as a buffer against urban encroachment, unregulated development, and other ecological threats. This move is not merely administrative; it is symbolic of a broader commitment to biodiversity conservation in Jammu and Kashmir. For decades, wildlife activists, researchers, and conservationists have warned of the Hangul’s rapid decline. Once found in large numbers across the Kashmir Valley, their population has shrunk to alarming levels, with Tral now emerging as one of the last natural habitats outside Dachigam National Park.
The historical significance of the area, including Shikargah and Khangund—initially protected under Maharaja-era game laws in 1945—adds further weight to the urgency of its conservation. The 2019 decision to declare the area a Wildlife Sanctuary was a foundational step. Now, with the ESZ notification, the habitat stands to gain the regulatory framework needed to restrict harmful activities, promote sustainable development, and allow for community-inclusive conservation.
Importantly, this protection is not limited to Hangul. The sanctuary also shelters other threatened and endemic species like the Kashmir Musk Deer and Kashmir Gray Langur, making it a rich reservoir of Himalayan biodiversity.
However, the notification must not become a paper tiger. It must be backed by stringent implementation, local stakeholder engagement, and regular monitoring. Ecotourism, when regulated, could be promoted as an alternative livelihood for the 26 villages within the ESZ, helping build a local constituency for conservation.
As Kashmir’s fragile ecology grapples with the pressures of climate change, development, and tourism, the Tral ESZ stands as a timely reminder that conservation and community development must go hand in hand. The survival of the Hangul—and by extension, the health of Kashmir’s forests—may very well depend on how seriously we act on today’s welcome step.