Community forestry practice was recognised in forest legislation of 1978 and is now implemented in 74 districts of Nepal. Though it is a successful programme in hilly region of Nepal for over two decades, it is relatively newcomer to the Terai. The Terai’s population is quite heterogeneous and is largely comprised of recent immigrants from mid hills of Nepal, many of them are land less. This demographic diversity results in considerable pressure on forests and subsequent tension and conflict among the many different groups and individuals who rely upon the resources from these forests for their livelihoods. This includes conflict within user groups where some users receive a disproportionate share of the benefits, or play a larger role in the CFUG decision making processes.

The level of participation of user groups depends basically on benefit they are getting, the level of opportunity and encouragement, the local leaders provide them and their beliefs and feelings about each other. In this regard, relevance of behavioural issues in community forestry has been further increased to learn the process of change in user groups and the interface between the two. This interface may be of cognitive nature, like, understanding the role of marginalized people and respecting their indigenous knowledge; affective nature, like developing positive feelings, attitudes and concerns about them and the conative nature like empowering them through joint decision and action.

In the current global context of the participatory research management with local people as partners, the role of local leaders as a manager of CF areas becomes very crucial. The crux of all the management is human relations where leadership makes a difference. It can upgrade as well as degrade the forest management. The issue of leadership in the context of community forestry is very pertinent in Nepal who has remained under different dynasty rulers since long. Therefore under such situation, there is a possibility that participation of user groups will be further affected adversely.

The main objective of the study was to explore the behaviour of the user groups in community forestry programs of Nepal. Specifically, the study conducted, the comparative assessment of the extent of participation of different user groups in community forestry, comparative assessment of the attitudes of different user groups towards community forestry programme, leadership style diagnosis of local level leaders, comparative assessment of the constraints to community forestry as perceived by user groups and forest personnel.

The study was conducted in four CFUGs of three districts of Western Terai; Nawalparashi, Rupendehi and Kapilbastu. The four CFUFGs were Ghumauri of Nawalparashi, Kalika and Rudrapur of Rupendehi and Khairani Chaur of Kapilbastu. Wealth ranking, matrix PRA, households survey, focus groups discussion, informal and formal discussions and observations were used to collect primary data. While secondary data were collected from different literatures, records of CFUGs, Government and Non Government Offices.

In community forest of Nepal there was almost equal level of participation across different caste groups in labour work. Still there were disparities in decision-making and benefit sharing. Upper and middle caste people were mostly involving in above activities. However, the condition was not that much severe as in case of class groups. There was no enabling environment for poor people to participate in decision-making and benefit sharing. Rich people seldom heard their voices. Their main involvement in community forest was for labour work. There was lesser involvement of women in decision-making and benefit sharing. However, their involvement in labour work is higher than males.

Regarding attitude of people there was a trend from uncertainty towards positive. Their attitudes were mainly shaped by available resources in community forest, functioning of committee and the leadership styles existing over there. Upper caste people were having attitude more towards positive than other caste people, where as, middle class people were having attitude more towards positive than other two classes. Attitude of lower caste and class people was least positive as they were having less opportunity to involve in decision making and benefit sharing activities. Attitude of males was slightly towards positive than females.

Leadership style of community forestry of Nepal was found to be participatory followed by charismatic style. The preference of leadership style was also participatory followed by nurturant. Involvement of lower caste people in decision-making and benefit sharing was high in the presence of participatory leadership. Participation of lower caste and class people was found low where exist relatively high level of autocratic characters in CF leader.

Regarding constraints of community forest, both villagers and forest personnel perceived lack of education and awareness as main constraint. Forest personnel have placed lack of alternative employment as second and political pressure and conflict as third constraint. Where as, for villagers, lack of unity and lack of alternative employment for poor were second and third constraints.

Level of participation of marginalised groups can be increased by providing awareness regarding community forest. This can only be possible if targeted groups are identified. For this, each community has to conduct wealth assessment of all its users and should provide awareness of CF. As they became aware, they become more concern about their role and responsibility, which automatically increase their level of participation leading to positive attitude towards CF. They should be given empowerment training separately from socially dominant group where, they can learn how to present their views without any hesitation. There should be strength in leadership at different levels. Leader should have a humane touch towards different caste, class and gender groups and should be able to lead equitably. Development of effective leadership skills at local level is very important for which various leadership-training camps can be organised.