Community forestry

Community forestry is a participatory model of forestry that gained prominence in the 1970s in which local communities take an active role in forest management and land use decision making. Community forestry is defined by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations as "any situation that intimately involves local people in forestry activity".^[1] Unlike centralized management systems, community forestry more strongly emphasizes the participation and collaboration of local community stakeholders, along with government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The level of involvement of each of these groups is dependent on the specific community forest project, the management system and the region.

Examples of community forestry have existed throughout history and exist today across South Asia, Africa, Latin America, and parts of Europe, often integrating traditional ecological knowledge with modern management. These initiatives are recognized for their contributions to climate resilience, forest regeneration, and socio-economic development.^[2][3] Many projects aim to protect community livelihoods, enhance resource access, reduce poverty, or promote sustainable land management, however, these initiatives can face many challenges in practice.