Forest and pasture resources both figure in the production systems practised by Jirel farmers, a Tibeto-Burman-speaking people who live in and around the Jiri River valley Dolakha District, Nepal. Fodder trees and pastures support livestock, which serve as a source of nutrition, cash income, draught power, and fertilizer. The Jirel extract wood from forests for fuel and construction, and leaf litter for fertilizer. Because of the contribution of forests and pastures to their household economies, they use these resources conservatively and prevent them from becoming exhausted. Jirel access to forest and pastures has changed through government intervention, with major turning points in 1795, 1868, 1951, and 1961. At the same time internal changes in family size, economic situation, and migration have led to changes in resource requirements, allocation, and access. For the most part, the Jirel have enjoyed the privilege of managing their resources on their own. Overall, usufruct rights have shifted to compensate for inequality in the distribution of ownership rights. Jirel systems of ownership and usufruct rights generate particular motivations, use patterns, and techniques that help them manage reasonably well to meet their needs while protecting the resources.