Conclusions and policy implications In this study, an attempt has been made to identify and analyze the
determinant factors that are influencing household participation in
community forest management programs, and to examine the effects
of community participation in forest management on income and poverty
levels of participant households, compared with non-participant
households. The study finds that community participation in forest activities
is influenced by a number of household and farmlevel characteristics,
which have important policy implications. Interestingly, educated
and younger members of households are found to bemore likely to participate
in community forestmanagement, because educated and younger
people are seeking employment and are aware of the potential
benefit. When employment generation in the rural subsistence economy
is relatively low, these people may be attracted to the community
forest management program. A similar argument can be made with regard
to the variable household size. Land holdings and the livestock size
of the household are positively related to household participation,
which suggests that relatively influential people in the community are
found to be participating in the community forest management. It is
necessary that the authorities devise suitable policies that can encourage
the poorer sector of society.