The loss of forest coverage is a serious concern worldwide. The causes of forest loss are different in different regions of the world. Less developed countries clear forests because of population pressure and developed countries clear forests for industrial purposes. However, the loss has been recurrent with a high rate of deforestation, which may lead to a catastrophe in the near future. In India, from northern Himalayas to southern Nilgiris, eastern Himalayas to western Shivalik Hills, forests have been depleted exclusively for human activities. Now, the question is how to rebuild the nominal portion of that damage. This paper is a part of the research project which tried to highlight the willingness of the people in the study area to contribute to conservation of forests. It is also an attempt to involve in community conservation schemes like Joint Forest Management (JFM) in Nameri and Charduar ranges of Sonitpur district, Assam. The analysis reveals the perception of local people towards the importance of forest conservation and willingness to participate in conservation-related activities.

Status of Forestry Depletion of forest coverage is a cause for concern worldwide. But a recent study conducted by forestry experts and presented at the Rome headquarters of the UN agency reported that planting programs, notably in China, India and Vietnam, helped to dramatically slowdown the rate of forest loss from 20.3 million acres a year in the 1990s to 12.8 million acres per year from 2000 to 2010.

Assam, the northeastern state of India, is a treasure of rare and endangered flora and fauna. It is also the proud possessor of luxuriant rain forest covering an area of 78,438 sq. km (2.4% of the mainland). It is situated within 24°44'' N to 27°45'' latitude and 89°41'' E to 96°02'' longitude.

In Assam, almost one-fourth of the land area is covered by forest. The area falls under sub-tropical region forest associated with tropical wet evergreen, semi-evergreen, moist deciduous, sub-tropical broad-leaved hill, sub-tropical pine and littoral, swamp forest and coniferous and vast area with grassland (Department of Environment and Forest, Government of India). High and low grasslands with indigenous shrubs are available on the riverside, especially in the Brahmaputra valley. The present shrinking pattern poses a threat to the very existence of the forests and it is high time to rebuild a concrete method to protect the forests.

A review (Rainforest Destruction) stated that the dense forest belt of Assam has been under siege since the early part of the 19th century. In 1900, Assam’s total forest coverage was 20,830 sq. miles, one of the highest percentages of any state in India.

The forest history of Assam has been intermingled with the intricate ethnic and cultural pattern of the state (Gait, 1926). The remote high tract, even on the high hills of Assam including her adjacent states, is a home to a wide variety of tribal groups, whose primary base of livelihood is shifting agriculture (Chaturvedi and Uppal, 1953). During the later part of the 19th century and early 20th century, farmers from the low land began to occupy the most fertile forestland.

Environmental Sciences Journal, SWAT Hydrological Model, Upper Bernam River Basin, Malaysia, Soil and Water Assessment Tool, Geographic Information System, Water Resources, Remote Sensing Technology, Agricultural Research Service, Universal Soil Loss Equation, GIS Database, Landsat Thematic Mapper Imageries, Meteorological Data, Government Departments.