Sustainable use of communal forests in Nepal

The lessons learned from attempts to implement community forestry policy in Nepal in recent years are examined from the perspectives of the sustainable use of forest resources and the evolving focus of forestry as a component of rural development. The key lesson is that policy implementation must be a dynamic process based on the participation and acceptance of the people who will be affected by any policy decision. Simply enunciating well intended policies and guidelines at central government level does not mean that sound forest resource management will happen automatically in a village. Policy guidelines must be accompanied by strategies and programmes for action in the field, as well as a substantial and considered effort to reform and strengthen government and community institutions that play critical roles in policy implementation.