Kashmir once had a complete natural flood management system comprising wetlands, floodplains and spill channels. When these natural buffers are lost, rivers are forced to carry water they were never designed to handle, resulting in widespread flooding," he said. Today, pollution, encroachments and neglect have transformed one of Kashmir's greatest natural assets into one of its biggest environmental concerns," he said. Recalling the lessons of the 2014 floods, Dr Tanveer said nature has repeatedly warned Kashmir against ignoring ecological limits. "If we fail to restore that natural shield, no amount of engineering alone will protect the Valley from the climate challenges that lie ahead."