Impact of community forestry policy on rural livelihoods and food security in Nepal

The socioeconomic impact of community forestry policy implementation in the Middle Hills region of Nepal is analysed. It is shown that some households, especially the poorer ones, now have less access to forest products for subsistence use and income than they had before the community forestry intervention, and that income from the forest is minor and only realized after a long time. The few income generating activities involving the poor and women have had little impact. Attention is drawn to the need to reconsider the approach to community forestry in the light of its socioeconomic objectives.