The Hygam wetland lies downstream of another Ramsar Site (Wular Lake, Site no.461), with which it is connected, and forms an important site for biodiversity conservation. It lies on the Central Asian Flyway and over 40,000 migratory and resident bird species have been recorded annually. The wetland also supports mammals, amphibians, and fish including Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra), common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and common pochard (Aythya ferina). The wetland is located within the Jhelum river basin and plays a significant role in flood control, aquifer recharge, and regulating water flow of the Wular Lake. This wetland provides local communities with a range of “ecosystem services”, providing fish, wood and clean water, and regulating the local climate. However, it is increasingly threatened by continuous siltation, willow plantations and nutrient accumulation. To tackle these issues, the government of Jammu and Kashmir has been implementing an integrated management action plan since 2002.