Northeastern region of India has been recognized as a “Biodiversity Hotspot”. The region comes under the Eastern Himalayan Eco-region complex, which is unique for its wonderful flora and fauna, coexisted with its diverse cultural heritage comprised of various ethnic groups. Majority of these ethnic groups are forest and agriculture dependent and they have a long relationship with the forest. The region also forms a part of the Indo-Burma Hot Spot as identified by the Conservation International. Moreover the region is a part of the Mac Arthur Eastern Himalaya Bio-geographic Zone.
The region is still underdeveloped and socio-economically poor. Gradual increase in population and lack of livelihood opportunities compelled the people to depend more on the forest of the region. Ethnic unrests among the tribal for the cause of developmental rights was causing socio-political situations inconvenient for Biodiversity conservation. Moreover, unabated illegal immigration has been becoming a burning problem as it gradually eating up the valuable land areas at a considerable pace and the local poor people has to fight for their indigenous rights. All these finally are taking its toll on the precious forest of the region. During last one decade, out of the seven states of the region, the state of Assam alone has lost more than 65% of its primary forest cover.    
The northeast India is recognized as one of world’s richest areas in terms of biodiversity. This region constitutes the eastern most part of the Eastern Himalayan Eco Region described by WWF and is a priority area for biodiversity conservation.