There is an increasing understanding that forests and the forestry sector are key elements in poverty
reduction strategies in Africa. However, issues of equity between various forest users are becoming a major
challenge to environmental development, forest management and poverty reduction. This paper presents an
analysis of household representatives' socio-economic determinants and other constraints on accessing
forest products, based on data collected through a questionnaire survey of 1865 respondents in seven
districts of the Sissili province, southern Burkina Faso. Three logistic regression models were developed to
examine determinants of access to the forest for collecting fuelwood, grazing livestock and collecting nontimber
forest products (NTFPs). The results showed that access to forest products is associated with
individual characteristics. Age, ethnicity, occupation and sources of income were significant determinants of
access to all types of forest products. Access to the forest for grazing livestock was further influenced by
gender and household size, while access to NTFPs was influenced by gender, household size and education
level of the respondents. The formal forest law that precludes grazing in the forest, and customary rules and
regulations pertaining to land tenure, were reported to be serious constraints to forest access for women and
migrant people. Understanding the factors influencing access to products from commonly-owned forest
resources could form the basis for developing, modifying and targeting policy instruments that promote
equitable access. Policies should particularly encourage the direct involvement of vulnerable and marginalized
groups (women and migrants) in forest management activities