How Much Carbon Does Community Forest Management Save?

Community forest management (CFM) in various forms was first introduced in India and Nepal during the 1980s to deal with degradation in state-owned forests when it became clear that the state was not able to protect the forest itself. It brings what was de facto open access forest under a sustainable management regime by giving communities both rights and responsibilities over specific areas of the resource. It was found to be a rather successful, popular and economic strategy, and has since spread to a large number of countries. In reducing deforestation and degradation, and enhancing the growth of forest biomass, CFM contributes to reduction of CO₂ in the atmosphere. This chapter makes quantitative assessments of reduction of emissions and the additional carbon sequestered by CFM, based on the findings of the K:TGAL project in 30 CFM sites in Senegal, Mali, Guinea Bissau, Tanzania, Nepal, Uttarkhand (India) and Papua New Guinea.