From supervising 'subjects' to supporting 'citizens': recent developments in community forestry in Asia and Africa

Major investments have been made in recent decades in the development of community forestry. Drawing on two contrasting cases - Nepal (multiple purpose, relatively low value upland forests) and Cameroon (humid lowland forests of high commercial value) - this paper argues that policy development has involved many unknowns, necessitating a learning process orientation and considerable flexibility. This involves substantial cost, but the benefits may be significant, as regards both rural livelihoods and the proper husbandry of hitherto under-managed resources.