Kashmir Communities Leading the Climate Fight

From riverbank tree planting to renewable energy projects, local initiatives are shaping a resilient future for the valley.

- Iqbal Hussain

A group of farmers gathers along the Lidder River in Pahalgam to plant willow and poplar saplings.

These are local residents, acting to protect the lands they have farmed for generations.

The trees are meant to prevent soil erosion and slow the river's rising waters during sudden floods, a reality that has grown more frequent as glaciers shrink and rainfall patterns shift.

Similar community-led projects are emerging across the valley.

In Srinagar, school clubs and youth groups organize monthly cleanups and afforestation drives, turning public spaces into living classrooms.

Students measure saplings, track growth, and learn how local wetlands absorb carbon while controlling floods. Religious institutions support these initiatives, using spaces and networks to mobilize volunteers.

Each effort is small on its own, but together they form a network that strengthens the valley’s resilience.

Households are changing too. Families are adopting energy-efficient cookstoves, installing solar water heaters, and switching to LED lighting.