Providing a critical and incisive examination of community forestry, this is a detailed study of complex issues in local forest governance, community sustainability and grassroots environmentalism. It explores community forestry as an alternative form of local collaborative governance in globally significant developed forest regions, with examples ranging from the Gulf Islands of British Columbia to Scandinavia. Responding to the global trend in devolution of control over forest resources and the ever-increasing need for more sustainable approaches to forest governance, the book highlights both the possibilities and challenges associated with community forestry implementation. It features compelling case studies and accounts from those directly involved with community forestry efforts, providing unique insight into the underlying social processes, issues, events and perceptions. It will equip students, researchers and practitioners with a deep understanding of both the evolution and management of community forestry in a pan-national context.

"... provide[s] an insightful window into the challenges and opportunities associated with this alternative form of forest governance. The authors are particularly successful at showing how the influence of history, culture, and larger governance structures can play a large role in supporting or hindering community forestry efforts. Recommended."
J.L. Rhodes, Antioch University, New England, Choice Magazine