It is heartening to note that the Assam government has decided to strictly maintain the world-famous Kaziranga Tiger Reserve and its seven adjoining protected areas as an integrated eco-sensitive zone. This decision came in the shape of a Cabinet approval of a draft notification, which will also cover eleven other reserve forests of the state. What is even more significant is that the state Cabinet has also approved the draft notification for delineation and recognition of nine vital animal corridors to the south of the Kaziranga National Park to provide for the safe passage of animals belonging to the national park. According to the Cabinet decision, the eco-sensitive zone will categorize activities inside the National Park as also in the eleven reserved forests as prohibited, regulated and promoted. The zone is intended to protect flora and fauna, besides ensuring ecological and environmental security around the national park. The seven protected areas in addition to Kaziranga National Park which the eco-sensitive zone will cover include KNP Tiger Reserve, Bura-Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary, Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary, Garampani Wildlife Sanctuary, Nambor-Doigrong Wildlife Sanctuary, and East and North Karbi Anglong Wildlife Sanctuary. The eleven reserve forests which will be covered under the eco-sensitive zone are – Hatipahar DC RF, Kolioni RF, Bagser RF, Kamakhya Hill RF, Kukurakata RF, Bhomoraguri RF, South Diju RF, North Diju RF, Panbari RF, Kachumara RF and Deopahar RF. While the state government must be congratulated for the decision, what is also immediately required is a bold step to remove all kinds of commercial establishments from the vicinity of the Kaziranga National Park. It is however not known why the other National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries of the state have not been declared as eco-sensitive zones as yet. It is common knowledge that all is not well with Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, Orang National Park, Manas National Park and Nameri National Park, not to speak of the new National Parks which have been announced. Moreover, several other wildlife sanctuaries and reserved forests are also in a high state of danger, with encroachment, poaching and illegal felling of trees posing a serious threat to both flora and fauna. A few glaring examples in the vicinity of Dispur are the Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary, the Khanapara reserve forest and the Deepor Beel Bird Sanctuary. It was only a few days ago that the Guwahati (West) legislator raised his voice in the State Assembly for the urgent need to protect the Deepor Beel from destruction and extinction.