The present women centric study was conducted in lesser Himalayan region of Nainital district of Uttarakhand. Data were collected personally from 150 women from eight villages of Dhari and Oakhalkanda blocks to identify the conservation activities for water and forest resources. Majority of women considered complete environmental balance as benefit from the forest and take part in forest management activities like plantation and shrub cutting. Traditional water resources like naula, gadhera and dhara are the main sources of water, however naula, gadhera, stand post and water pipeline are the most frequently used sources of drinking water in the study area. Water shortage was the very serious problem in the study area as depicted by highest weighted mean score (WMS) of 2.74 and ranked as I whereas air pollution was considered as not a problem to be addressed seriously (WMS 1.71, rank VII). Need for waste water treatment was felt by inhabitants residing in acute water shortage areas whereas majority of women felt no need of waste water treatment as water pipe line has been installed in majority of villages. With respect to development of other sources for fulfilling the water shortage, majority of women cited construction of ‘tanks’ followed by stand post and naula recharge. The Government agencies provided training on skill development in water and forest conservation to majority of women

Keyword: Women centric; Water and forest conservation; Lesser Himalayan region; Traditional water sources;