Introduction to K.E.W.A.

K.E.W.A. or the Kashmir Environmental Watch Association is a non-political environmental organization dedicated to the protection and preservation of the Himalayan region of the formerly independent state of Jammu & Kashmir (generally referred to as "Kashmir"), which is currently divided and disputed between India, Pakistan, and China. Since 1989, a movement for re-unification and independence has persisted with opposition from the administering governments. The failure to resolve this conflict has resulted in the outbreak of sustained armed conflict. This situation has created a human rights disaster and at the same time the delicate environment of one of the most beautiful and isolated regions of the Himalaya has steadily deteriorated. Observing the continuing destruction of the environment of Jammu & Kashmir and believing that it is impossible to separate the environment from human condition, K.E.W.A. came into being in hopes of starting a trend towards serious and concerted efforts to protect Jammu & Kashmir's environmental treasures.

    The mission of K.E.W.A. is primarily two-fold. First, to increase awareness of the environment by serving as a watch organization over the conditions of the environment of Jammu & Kashmir. Second, to take action to preserve and protect the environment by working as a catalyst for an indigenous environmental movement.

K.E.W.A. is dedicated to the preservation and protection of all aspects of the environment of Jammu & Kashmir. In particular, K.E.W.A. focuses on issues of:

• deforestation

• river preservation

• endangered species protection

• general preservation of the bio-diversity of Jammu & Kashmir

Preserving the traditional harmony in which the indigenous inhabitants of the region have lived with the environment for centuries is of particular interest to K.E.W.A.

Some of K.E.W.A.'s actions to fulfill its goals include:

• environmental awareness of the inhabitants of Jammu & Kashmir

• encouraging the growth of an environmental movement in Jammu & Kashmir

• reporting on the environment of J&K to the international environmental community and concerned organizations

• advocating against any environmentally unfriendly policies or actions taken by any administering government or organization in Jammu & Kashmir 

• encouraging Eco-friendly business and agricultural methods by locals.     

K.E.W.A. whole-heartedly believes that the preservation of the environment is in the highest interests of the inhabitants of Jammu & Kashmir and the world community at large.

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