Environmental Governance in Jammu and Kashmir: Policy Frameworks and Contemporary Challenges
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Environmental governance has emerged as a critical policy concern for scholars, policymakers and citizens alike as states confront growing environmental challenges such as climate change, loss of biodiversity, deforestation, glacier melting and depletion of natural resources. This particularly becomes more concerning for the ecologically fragile or sensitive regions which require effective governance mechanisms and policy frameworks to ensure sustainable environmental management and long-term ecological resilience. The Himalayan region of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) represents one of the most environmentally sensitive areas in South Asia, characterised by glaciers, forests, wetlands, alpine ecosystems, and diverse biodiversity that provide essential ecological services. Despite its ecological significance, environmental governance in the region has historically received limited policy attention due to prolonged political instability, governance challenges, and competing developmental priorities. This research paper examines the environmental governance frameworks, policy initiatives, and various environmental challenges in the Union Territory (UT) of J&K with particular focus on forest governance and climate policy initiatives undertaken in the region. The study particularly focuses on the legislative frameworks such as the Jammu and Kashmir Forest Acts and the State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC) as a key policy instrument designed to address climate vulnerability and promote sustainable development. The findings of the paper suggest that although recent policy initiatives have strengthened environmental governance in J&K to some extent, several challenges still persist, which include fragmented policy structures, institutional limitations, weak enforcement mechanisms, and limited participation of local communities in environmental management.
Source: The Asian Quarterly
DOI: 10.65813/aq/020233
Authors: Yaasir Ahmad, Touqeer Nazir Sheikh
Institution: University of Kashmir
Language: English
Subfield: Global and Planetary Change
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7170795651