Hidden faces and public spaces: a reappraisal of women's contribution in realising community forest management in the Hindu-Kush Himalaya

This paper celebrates women's initiatives in mediating conflicts, seeking viable solutions, and negotiating consensus in community forest management. It highlights the contribution women have made in creating and nurturing processes for user group formation and sustenance, and describes differences between the nature of contributions to community forest resource management made by men and women. The paper draws on case-study examples from eastern Nepal and northern India, and extensive research and field work by the authors. Conventional prescriptions of for participation are challenged and the crucial role that women play in realising and sustaining forest management practices and processes is elaborated.