Community forestry has no doubt come a long way towards becoming part of mainstream forestry in some countries. However, its potential to make a difference in the management of the forestry sector and rural development is yet to be widely recognized.

What is the status of community forestry activities and initiatives in the Asia-Pacific region? This overview was prepared for the workshop, Capitalisation and Sharing of Experiences on the Interaction Between Forest Policies and Land Use Patterns in Asia, in Godavari, Nepal, 24-28 January 2005. It explains the concept of community forestry, and discusses: 

• Status of Community Forestry in the Asia-Pacific Region
• Challenges and Opportunities
• Validation and Scaling-up Community Forestry