Power, Rules, Access, and Gender: Women’s Inclusion in Community Forest Benefits – Policy to Practice

Forests are more than just trees; they are lifelines. For millions in Nepal, especially women, community forests provide food, fuel, medicine, and essential livelihood opportunities. However, critical questions remain: who decides how these forests are managed, and who truly benefits from them. This study examines women’s participation, access to benefits, and decision-making power within Nepal’s community forestry system. Drawing on qualitative data collected from 19 Community Forest User Groups (CFUGs) across four provinces, including mixed-gender and women-only groups, we conducted participatory workshops, group discussions, and community-level engagements to capture women’s lived experiences beyond formal records. Our findings reveal a persistent gender gap between women’s labor contributions and their access to authority and economic benefits.