State PCS - J & K (KAS)

• 09 Apr 2025

Kashmir’s Spring Blooms

Why in News? 

Kashmir’s unique agroclimatic conditions nurture a wide variety of endemic plants, especially spring blooms, which are crucial for the valley’s biodiversity and cultural heritage. 

 

Key Points 

• Notable Spring Blossoms: 
  • Colchicum luteum (Veer Kaum): This delicate yet radiant bloom often carpets hillocks and forest grooves. 
  • Sternbergia vernalis (Goul Tour): A golden-yellow flower that heralds the arrival of spring. 
  • Salix (Braed Mushuk): A culturally and ecologically important plant with multiple uses. 
  • Viburnum grandiflorum (Kulmansh): A shrub bearing large, soft pink flowers. 
  • Daffodils: Their bright yellow and white petals symbolise renewal and hold a special place in Kashmiri folklore. 
• Cultural and Ecological Significance: 
  • These spring blooms provide vital ecosystem services by supporting pollinators essential for fruit tree pollination.  
  • For generations, local ethnic communities have relied on these blooms for medicinal and cultural practices.  
• Mounting Threats to Spring Flora: 
  • Unsustainable development, deforestation, and human encroachment threaten these spring blooms. 
  • Climate change is altering blooming patterns, causing premature flowering, disrupting natural seasonal cycles. 
  • Despite their importance, there are no dedicated conservation programs for spring blooms.   
    • Current protection comes from national parks like Salim Ali and wildlife sanctuaries like Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary. 

 Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary 

• About: 
  • Authorities officially notified the Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary as a protected area in 1987. 
  • They proposed it as a biosphere reserve in 1981 before granting it sanctuary status. 
  • It lies approximately 26 km southwest of Baramulla district headquarters. 
• Altitude: 
  • The sanctuary spans altitudes ranging from 2,400 to 4,300 meters above sea level, supporting diverse ecological zones. 
• Flora: 
  • The vegetation varies based on altitude, slope orientation, habitat conditions, and human interference. 
  • Coniferous forests dominate the landscape, covering nearly 85% to 90% of the total forested area, especially across the spurs and grooves. 
• Fauna: 
  • The sanctuary provides critical habitat for several important wildlife species. 
  • Key species include the endangered Kashmir stag (Hangul), the Himalayan black bear, and the elusive musk deer. 

 Salim Ali National Park 

• About:  
  • Salim Ali National Park lies amidst the scenic landscapes of Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. 
  • The national park covers an area of 9.07 square kilometres, making it a compact yet ecologically significant habitat. 
  • Authorities established the park in 1986 as a protected area to conserve its unique flora and fauna. 
  • Initially known as the City Forest National Park, it was later renamed to honour Dr. Salim Ali. 
    • The renaming paid tribute to Dr. Ali’s pioneering work in Indian ornithology and his lifelong commitment to bird conservation. 
• Ecological Significance: 
  • The park stands out for its ecological richness, particularly as a haven for bird species. 
  • It continues to serve as a vital green space within an urban setting, contributing to environmental stability and biodiversity conservation in Srinagar.

Himalayan Climate Research Centre in J&K

Why in News? 

The Union Minister of Earth Sciences inaugurated the first-ever “Himalayan High Altitude Atmospheric & Climate Research Centre” in the elevated region of Nathatop, located in Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir. 

 Key Points 

• Collaborative Efforts:  
  • The centre is the result of a multi-tier collaboration of the Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of J&K and Swiss National Science Foundation. 
• A Strategic Location for Critical Research: 
  • The Nathatop site was chosen for its clean air and low pollution levels—ideal conditions to study cloud formation, aerosol interactions, and weather patterns. 
  • Researchers will be able to observe atmospheric processes in free tropospheric conditions, a rarity in most parts of India. 
• Launch of ICE-CRUNCH: 
  • During the ceremony, the union minister also flagged off ICE-CRUNCH—a joint Indo-Swiss research project involving Indian scientists and researchers from university in Zurich. 
  • The study will explore ice-nucleating particles and cloud condensation nuclei in the north-western Himalayas both critical for understanding precipitation and climate behaviour. 
• Tapping Himalayan Potential:  
  • The minister also cited national initiatives like the Aroma Mission and Floriculture Mission, which are helping unlock the Himalayas' economic and ecological potential. 
  • These missions aim to boost local livelihoods while contributing to India’s broader climate goals. 

 Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) 

• The SNSF, established in 1952, is a public funding organization that evaluates research proposals and allocates public research money based on a competitive principle, ensuring high-quality research in Switzerland. 

 Aroma Mission 

• Objectives: 
  • To promote the cultivation of aromatic crops for essential oils that are in great demand by the aroma industry. 
  • To enable Indian farmers and the aroma industry to become global leaders in the production and export of some other essential oils on the pattern of menthol mint. 
  • To provide substantial benefits to the farmers in achieving higher profits, utilization of waste lands and protection of their crops from wild and grazing animals. 
• Nodal Agencies: 
  • The nodal laboratory is CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow. 
  • The participating laboratories are CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT), Palampur; CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM), Jammu etc. 

 Floriculture Mission 

• Floriculture: 
  • It is a branch of horticulture that deals with the cultivation, processing and marketing of ornamental plants vis-à-vis landscaping of small or large areas, and maintenance of gardens so that the surroundings may appear aesthetically pleasant. 
• Objectives: 
  • To focus on commercial floral crops, seasonal/annual crops, wild ornaments and cultivation of flower crops for honey bee rearing. 
  • Some of the popular crops include Gladiolus, Canna, Carnation, Chrysanthemum, Gerbera, Lilium, Marigold, Rose, Tuberose etc. 
• Implementing Agencies: 
  • Along with Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), other implementing agencies involved are: 
    • Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) 
    • Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) 
    • APEDA and TRIFED 
    • Fragrance and Flavour Development Centre (FFDC), Kannauj, and 
    • Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME).