Shallabug Wetland Conservation Reserve is located in the District Srinagar, UT of J&K. It is situated in the deltaic region of the Sindh Nallah, about 18 km from Srinagar to the west of the Anchar Lake. It is an important aquatic ecosystem of Kashmir Himalaya and covers an area of 1675 hectares. The depth of the water varies from 0.3 to 2.0 m, and the water level fluctuates considerably according to the rainfall and snowmelt. Large areas of the wetland dry up between September and March. The area has extensive reedbeds of Phragmites communis and Typha angustata, and rich growth of Nymphaea candida and N. stellata on open water. Lemna sp. forms mats over the surface in some areas, while adjacent areas have willow plantations and paddy fields. It harbours a rich diversity of resident and migratory avifaunal species as well as macrophytes of high socio-economic importance. Supplementary food like molluscs, fishes, and insects are also available in plenty. Shallabugh Wildlife Conservation/ Wetland Reserve is one of the very important Wetland Conservation Reserves falling within the River Jhelum basin and plays a significant role as a flood absorption basin, biodiversity conservation site, Eco-tourist destination, and livelihood security for local communities. The average elevation of the Wetland is 1580m AMSL. It serves as an abode to more than four lakh resident and migratory birds of at least 21 species. Due to undesirable and excessive silting/ sedimentation, the very existence of the Wetland is under severe threat. The maximum sediment accumulation share is from Anchar inlets which carry a high suspended load. Continuous siltation has decreased the depth of the wetland accompanied by a decrease in water levels. The willow plantations at places have also added to the siltation and accumulation of nutrients in the wetland and changed its wetland characteristics. Consequent to the high rate of siltation, the Wetland has lost its wetland characteristics to a large extent, and at many places

A wetland should be considered internationally important if it contains a representative, rare, or unique example of a natural or near-natural wetland type found within the appropriate biogeographic region.

A wetland should be considered internationally important if it supports vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered species or threatened ecological communities.

A wetland should be considered internationally important if it supports populations of plant and/or animal species important for maintaining the biological diversity of a particular biogeographic region.

A wetland should be considered internationally important if it supports plant and/or animal species at a critical stage in their life cycles, or provides refuge during adverse conditions.

A wetland should be considered internationally important if it regularly supports 20,000 or more waterbirds.

A wetland should be considered internationally important if it regularly supports 1% of the individuals in a population of one species or subspecies of waterbird.

A wetland should be considered internationally important if it supports a significant proportion of indigenous fish subspecies, species or families, life-history stages, species interactions and/or populations that are representative of wetland benefits and/or values and thereby contributes to global biological diversity.

A wetland should be considered internationally important if it is an important source of food for fishes, spawning ground, nursery and/or migration path on which fish stocks, either within the wetland or elsewhere, depend.

A wetland should be considered internationally important if it regularly supports 1% of the individuals in a population of one species or subspecies of wetland-dependent nonavian animal species.