An examination is presented of farm households' tree management strategies and a framework is proposed for policy interventions. Four brief case studies are presented from: Murang'a District, Kenya; Uttar Pradesh, India; Siaya and South Nyanza Districts, Kenya; western Rajasthan, India; and Middle Hills, Nepal. Historically this component of on-farm resources has attracted little interest but practical policy measures can be identified, and differ substantially from those relevant to forestry.