The British Government, in 1905, had recommended the protection of Laokhowa along with Kaziranga, and had made special provisions for the same. Nagaon district is among a few regions in Asom which is rich in flora and fauna, having nine forest reserves including the famous Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary (LWS). However, Laokhowa, though declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1989, has turned into a barren land with the advent of poachers and encroachers and due to the unabated cutting of trees. This reserves has virtually been turned into a grazing ground by the mindless activities of the people. It may be mentioned here that the British Government in 1905 had recommended the protection of Laokhowa along with Kaziranga, and had made special provisions for the same. In view of these activities going on in the forest reserve area, the Nagaon Upabhokta Suraksha Samity (NUSS) has blamed it on suspected Bangladeshi immigrants, who have not only encroached land in Kaziranga National Park (KNP) but have entered Laokhowa in thousands. This has exposed the total failure on the part of the Asom Government in carrying out the primary duty of protecting the State's natural wealth, the NUSS stated. The NUSS further alleged that cutting of trees and exploitation of various other forest wealth has been going on unabated in LWS. Killing of animals and illegal fishing is also going on since the past 15 years right under the nose of the administration. As per census reports of 1991, out of the total 4435.3 square km area in Nagaon district, forests cover around 350 square km. But, in view of the 2001 census reports, the forest cover has come down to around 223.54 square km. There is a forest range office and 21 forest camps in Nagaon district for the protection of the forest areas. During the last few years, Laokhowa has seen the worst of encroachment with many suspected Bangladeshi infiltrators encroaching the forest areas and building houses illegally. Taking the advantage of the indifferent attitude of the Forest Department, unabated smuggling of timber and other valuable forest wealth is going on inside Laokhowa and the area has become a safe haven for poachers and smugglers. It may also be noted here that a good number of natural ponds are inside the forest reserve containing exotic varieties of fish, but most of them have been abandoned by the Forest Department. Hence, a section of unscrupulous traders have been doing a roaring fishery business in these ponds, without even caring to pay any kind of tax to the Government. It has also been alleged by the NUSS that a number of illegal saw mills are operating inside the Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary. The smugglers follow the modus operandi of transporting the illegally cut timber in thelas right under the nose of the administration, by allegedly coughing up a sum of money as bribe. The NUSS said that it was rather unfortunate that Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain declared that there were no encroachers in either Kaziranga National Park and in any other forest reserves in the State, when all common people in the State know about the ground reality. The political parties have not yet gauged the gravity of the situation, the NUSS said, adding that there will be time when the identity of the indigenous people of the State will be at stake.