Using the cases of two leasehold forestry, a new article in Society and Natural Resources reveals potential limitations in the poverty alleviation potential of leasehold forestry program in Nepal.

First, even though the program is targeted toward the poorest, nonpoor households can find opportunities to enter leasehold forest user groups. Second, by not raising the incomes and living standards of all households in a group simultaneously, it is possible for leasehold forestry to simply redistribute poverty. The study suggests these limitations require improvement not in the design but primarily in the implementation of the program.

The study concludes that (1) setting up a leasehold forest is not easy and can create conflict, and (2) leasehold forestry has the potential to create new inequities. If the problems identified in these two cases are widespread, which is a remaining empirical question, then the program is not meeting its poverty alleviation goals. Given these limitations, we recommend that local forest officials (1) pay closer attention to how leasehold forestry is implemented, and (2) help enforce and strengthen leasehold forest member rights against nonmembers.

Thoms, Christopher A.,Karna, Birendra K.,Karmacharya, Mukunda B. 2006 Limitations of Leasehold Forestry for Poverty Alleviation in Nepal. Society & Natural Resources. 19 (10): 931- 938