July 28, 2025

Nepal’s community forestry program is a globally celebrated success story in sustainable natural resource management. By empowering local communities to manage their forests, Nepal has reversed deforestation trends, restored degraded lands, and improved rural livelihoods—all while conserving biodiversity.

Early Challenges: Forest Decline and Top-Down Management

In the mid-20th century, Nepal faced rapid deforestation driven by population growth, unsustainable logging, and agricultural expansion. The government managed forests through centralized forestry departments, which struggled to enforce regulations across vast areas. This top-down approach alienated local users, leading to widespread illegal harvesting and forest degradation.

The Birth of Community Forestry

The late 1970s marked a turning point. With international support from organizations like the World Bank and FAO, Nepal launched pilot projects to hand over degraded forest patches to local communities. The official Community Forestry Development Program (CFDP) began in 1978, recognizing that people living near forests should be stewards of those resources.

The Forest Act of 1993 was a landmark, legally empowering Community Forest User Groups (CFUGs) with rights to manage and benefit from forest resources sustainably.

Expansion and Impact

Today, over 22,000 CFUGs manage approximately one-third of Nepal’s forest cover—more than 2 million hectares. These groups protect and regenerate forests, regulate sustainable harvests, and share benefits equitably among members.

Community forestry has led to:

  • Dramatic reduction in deforestation and forest degradation
  • Restoration of wildlife habitats and increased biodiversity
  • Enhanced rural incomes through sustainable harvesting and eco-tourism
  • Strengthened community governance and social inclusion, including women and marginalized groups

Ongoing Challenges and the Future

Despite its success, community forestry faces challenges such as ensuring inclusive participation, resolving resource conflicts, and adapting to climate change. Policy reforms continue to focus on strengthening CFUG capacities and integrating community forestry into wider landscape conservation and climate resilience plans.

How Travelers Can Support Community Forestry

  • Choose eco-tourism operators who partner with CFUGs
  • Visit community forest areas with local guides
  • Support products derived from sustainably managed forests
  • Respect forest regulations and local customs