State PCS - JAMMU & KASHMIR (JKAS)

• 16 Jun 2025

Surinsar-Mansar Wildlife Sanctuary

Why in News? 

The Jammu and Kashmir Government has formed a Divisional Level Committee to monitor the Eco-Sensitive Zone surrounding the Surinsar-Mansar Wildlife Sanctuary. 

• The committee will monitor compliance with the provisions issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).

Key Points

• Surinsar-Mansar Wildlife Sanctuary: 
  • About: 
    • This Sanctuary has twin lakes namely Surinsar and Mansar. 
    • It spreads across three districts in Jammu & Kashmir: Jammu, Udhampur, and Samba. 
  • Wildlife Richness:  
    • Prominent mammal species include Nilgai (Blue Bull), Indian Barking Deer, Leopard, Wild Boar, Jackal, Fox. 
    • The sanctuary’s forests host a wide variety of trees, shrubs, and climbers. 
    • Due to the presence of high diversity of migratory birds Mansar and Surinsar wetlands were designated as Ramsar site in 2005 and claimed as ‘Internationally important Wetland area’.  
      • These two sites support population of CITES and IUCN Red listed turtle species as well as one endemic and endangered medusa species i.e. Mansariella lacustris.  
      • Beside the above uniqueness these two lakes were considered to be important habitats for near about 50 species of fish fauna.

Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) 

• The National Wildlife Action Plan (2002-2016) of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) stipulated that state governments should declare land falling within 10 km of the boundaries of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries as eco-fragile zones or Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) under the Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986. 
• While the 10-km rule is implemented as a general principle, the extent of its application can vary. Areas beyond 10 km can also be notified by the Union government as ESZs, if they hold larger ecologically important “sensitive corridors”. 
• The basic aim is to regulate certain activities around National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries so as to minimise the negative impacts of such activities on the fragile ecosystem encompassing the protected areas.