_____________________________________________________________________________________________________ *Corresponding author: E-mail: bhatarshad09@gmail.com, rgckashmir@gmail.com; International Journal of Environment and Climate Change 9(3): 193-203, 2019; Article no.IJECC.2019.015 ISSN: 2581-8627 (Past name: British Journal of Environment & Climate Change, Past ISSN: 2231–4784) Economic Appraisal of Water-Ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir: India M. H. Wani 1 , S. H. Baba 2 and Arshad Bhat 1* 1 Rajiv Gandhi Chair, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Srinagar, India. 2 Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Fisheries, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Srinagar, India. Authors’ contributions This work was carried out in collaboration among all the authors. Author MHW designed the study and wrote the protocol of the study. Author SHB performed the statistical analysis of the data. Author AB wrote the draft of the manuscript, managed the analyses of the study and managed the literature review of the study. All authors equally contributed to the article. Article Information DOI: 10.9734/IJECC/2019/v9i330107 Editor(s): (1) Dr. Nese Yilmaz, Assistant Professor, Department of Freshwater Resources and Managment, Faculty of Aquatic Sciences, Istanbul University, Turkey. (2) Dr. Alice Maria Correia Vilela, Assistant Professor, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Portugal. Reviewers: (1) A. E. Mbachu, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nigeria. (2) Tayd Dayvison Custódio Peixoto, Brazil. Complete Peer review History: http://www.sdiarticle3.com/review-history/48795 Received 24 February 2019 Accepted 10 May 2019 Published 18 May 2019 ABSTRACT Aims: The aims of the current paper is to provide a comparative analysis of the water ecosystem in the state of Jammu & Kashmir in India and to highlight economic potentiality of the two nerve tributaries; “Dal Lake” and “River Jhelum” to the farmers and other communities of the Kashmiri society. Study Design: The temperate region of Kashmir valley is bestowed with many water bodies in the form of springs, lakes and rivers. Kashmir region is world famous for its lakes viz; “Dal Lake”, “Wulur Lake”, “Mansbal Lake”, “Anchar Lake”, “Nigeen Lake”; springs viz; Kokarnag, Verinag, Achabal and “River Jhelum” etc. “Dal Lake” and “River Jhelum” are known to be the nerve tributaries of the valley and various communities are dependent on these water bodies for their livelihood. Methodology: Contingent valuation method and willingness to pay techniques were used to Original Research Article