Analyze the long-term impacts of enhanced women’s participation in CBFM on forest sustainability, household livelihood security, and gender equity in rural India.
Enhanced women’s participation in community-based forest management (CBFM) leads to improved forest sustainability through stronger protection, regeneration, and rule compliance. It boosts household livelihood security by broadening income sources and strengthening social networks, especially via non-timber forest product management. Over time, it promotes gender equity by empowering women in decision-making, increasing economic independence, and shifting local power dynamics.