Forests are easily available renewable natural resources in the world that directly and indirectly
provide socio-economic benefits to the people living in and around the forests and also
environmental protection and ecological balance to the global people. In Nepal, traditionally
people’s participation in forest protection and sustainable management was very popular through
many informal traditional and indigenous forest management committees. But, unfortunately,
there was a huge lost of forests in quantity, quality and density due to some unfavourable
socio-economic and political situations. So, the government has formally, legally and gradually
shifted from centralized to decentralized protection and management of forests since mid of
1970’s through various forest plans, policies, acts, regulation and guidelines. The major aims of
people’s participation are to get basic forest products, socio-economic development, and overall
improvement of forest resources. Moreover, the role of I/NGOs and other stakeholders should be
as partner, advisor, facilitator and more technical supporter for effective participation of people.
However, the major challenges of people’s participation is how to make meaningful involvement
of local people in better forest protection, management and sustainable development so that they
will get sustainable economic benefits for livelihood, environmental protection and ecological
balance.