India was once considered ‘too poor to be green’, but the strong historicity and prevalence of community forest management (CFM) suggest otherwise – that ‘environmental consciousness’ was always, and still to this day, present among Indians. At present, CFM is practiced all over Asia but is even more prevalent in India. This review synthesises case studies to assess the socio-ecological success and challenges faced within community forest management in the backdrop of India. CFM has improved forest regeneration, biomass, and carbon stock, but despite these gains, challenges persist. Climate change threatens the forest, while benefit-sharing mechanisms often favour state authorities, reducing community participation. Limited knowledge dissemination and bureaucratic constraints weaken local governance. Social disparities, especially gender-based exclusion, further hinder equitable resource distribution. By linking community, their forest conservation and the conflicts that arise from it, we recommend enhancing transparency, promoting justice and inclusive participation, and integrating technology to strengthen community forest management in India.
forest policy, carbon sequestration, climate change, environmental justice, socio-ecological benefits
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