Author Branney, P., Malla, B.Y., Bhattarai, B., Tamrakar P.R. & Neupane, H. R.

Community Forestry Programme in Nepal is widely considered to be successful in terms of achieving its dual objectives of environmental conservation and local community development. However, we are becoming increasingly aware that if we wish the programme to succeed in the longer term, we need to ensure that community forests need to be managed as well as protected. Only by doing this will the forest products give incentives and benefits for continued protection in a sustainable way. It is clear that many FUGs have been innovative and effective in their forest management activities, but also that there are many FUGs which have much scope for improvement. We should attempt to learn from successes and best practice to ensure that all FUGs are sustainably managing their community forests. This Guidebook gives a series of steps for carrying out forest management planning, and describes the forest management options and activities which FUGs could use in different situations. It is a useful tool for Department of Forests staff and NGOs in their work with FUGs and for preparing good operational plans.