Gender, class, caste and participation: community forestry in Central Nepal

This chapter explores gender, class and caste relationships that determine decision-making power, and access to and control over the resources in one of the Jalpa Forest User Groups in Nepal. Obstacles to the participation of women and the poor, such as heavy workloads, timing and duration of meetings, resistance from village men, lack of self-confidence and awareness, apparent lack of interest, and institutional constraints, are discussed. Finally, equity aspects in benefit sharing and decision making are also discussed.