In this study, an attempt has been made to identify and analyse 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 farm level characteristics, which have important policy implications. Interestingly, educated and younger members of households are found to be more likely to participation community forest management, 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