This Study Guide has been written in response to the enormous interest world-wide in the experiences gained in Nepal and India in implementing participatory forms of forest management. It provides a critical analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of these new approaches and considers whether participatory forestry provides a new paradigm for forest management or whether it is another fashionable, but soon to be marginalised, development trend. The material presented in the Guide draws on the large and growing empirical literature emerging from India and Nepal. Consequently, as well as providing an introduction to the issues, it is also a source book of the information available. Since the literature is so large a bibliography has been included which contains as much of the relevant available literature as it has been possible to collect. Appendices are also included that describe video material and other information sources (Appendices G and H). Where possible, exercises for use on training courses have also been appended (Appendices A-E). These are ones used both by the author and also by other trainers that have been considerably refined and developed over the course of several years. Discussion points are provided in the margins of each chapter. In some cases these are points on which to reflect; in others they could from the nucleus for a group exercise, or essay questions. A series of additional questions which might be used for group discussions are given in Appendix F. The Guide is not a recipe book of 'how to do' participatory forestry; rather it is a critical analysis of what has happened and what is happening now.

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