Golden leaf monkey, Trachypithecus geei (Ali & Santapau, 1956) is the most endangered primate species of South Asia, endemic to the adjacent border of Western Assam, India and Bhutan. It occupies an area of 900 sq. km in India and 1400 sq. km in Bhutan (Biswas, 2002; Wangchuk et. al., 2001). IUCN Red Data Book (2003) categorized the species globally Endangered while CAMP, 2002 as Critically Endangered in India (Molour, et. al., 2003) and placed in Appendix-I of CITES.

In India except in a small portion of Manas NP (9%) and Chakrashilla WLS, entire population distributed in less protected Reserved Forest and Unclassified Forest. During last 30 years, 50% of these forest habitats of Golden leaf monkey were lost due to political instability. As a result their habitat become fragmented, populations becomes small, isolated in a number of sub-population and demographically and genetically vulnerable.

The Chakrashilla Wildlife Sanctuary with an area of 45 sq. km is one of the last strong holds of Golden leaf monkey. Recent study (PVA) predicts that this population have better chances of long-term survival if the present state of destruction could be checked (Biswas, 2004). But despite being upgraded as protected area, the infrastructure of the Sanctuary is very poor with insufficient staff strength and facilities. Villages surround the entire Sanctuary and major proportion of the fringe villagers is either completely or partially dependent on Sanctuary for their livelihood. The management plan for this sanctuary is still in preparation as the authorities fighting for resources and the livelihood issues are totally ignored and this areas is the state’s poorest region. In this complex situation, social, economic, cultural and environmental aspects of working for the conservation of the species will make it necessary to integrates diverse fields of study and action which basically emerged the need to broaden the conservation efforts involving all communities and management authorities.

The overwhelming complexity of the emerging issues has continuously challenged the research and education to adopt a learning attitude in the process, to be attentive to new happenings and dare implement measures that tackle the different aspects. So, in this proposed project, we are planning to adopt preliminary an inclusive approach to combine biological research, environmental education, and conservation extension and community participation including continuous evaluation to assess the change and emerging issues time to time.

By adopting this inclusive approach, the project will integrate different strategies, which will expect to brought better chances for long-term survival of Golden leaf monkey and its forest habitats of Chakrashilla WLS, Assam.