Public lands are common lands which are mostly under the jurisdiction of local government as per the local self governance act 1999. Though, use of such public lands is not new in Nepal, community based management initiatives of such public land is an innovation in Nepal's Terai. It has recently got much attention especially in southern Terai where people are devoid of any access to forest and forest products. Eleven districts in Nepal's Terai have been implementing public land management programme for around five years. This article aims to provide general knowledge and reflection from experience of public land management initiatives in LFP Terai districts. It argues that Public land management has the potentiality to contribute in realizing forestry and generation of income/livelihoods opportunities in the forest lacking southern VDCs of Terai districts.