Challenges to Conservation

Since 1972, 65% of the lowland semi-evergreen forests in Assam have been destroyed.

The human population of the region has grown by 20% in the last 10 years and pristine habitat is being illegally converted to cropland, with human-elephant conflict becoming more common as this encroachment increases.

With increasing frequency, people are killed when hungry and homeless elephants raid farms and houses. As a result, elephants are more likely to be killed in retaliation by irate communities.

In addition to encroachment by illegal settlers into forest reserves, large tracts of forests have been cleared by an active timber mafia. Large infrastructure projects like highways and dams threaten key corridors.

WWF is committed to meeting these threats and challenges in order to ensure that the North Bank Landscape continues to provide a safe haven to thriving wildlife populations.