This community-conserved area is located in the Bhatiyat taluka of Chamba district in Himachal Pradesh, about 75 km from Dharamsala and 115 km from Chamba town. The nearest bus stop is at a distance of 4 km and the closest railway station is in Pathankot, which is 75 km away from the village.

The landscape is mountainous, of mixed Shivalik-Himalayan formation with sub-tropical forests. This region has south-facing slopes of the Dhauladhar range. The forest is regenerating with mixed species like ban, pine, champa, kachnar, sisso and tuni. Rhesus macaques are found here in plenty. The legal status of the community-conserved area is Demarcated Protected Forest.

The main communities here are rajputs, brahmins and sippys (scheduled caste), making for a total population of 155. Agriculture and service are the main sources of income. The villagers also own livestock. The livestock population is 300. Forest dependence is mainly for fuelwood. The villagers have legal rights to grazing and fodder, fuelwood and biomass collection from the forest.

Conservation efforts here began in 1991, when the villagers experienced extreme scarcity of fodder for their livestock. With inputs from a local NGO, Himalaya Bachao Samiti (HBS), the entire community, inclusive of all castes, both men and women, decided that grazing would be stopped in the selected 10 ha of forest. Initially, there was interference from neighbouring village, but the conflict was resolved with the help of HBS.

The van sudhar sabha has an executive committee of 13 people, elected in an open process. Most decisions are however taken in the general body meeting (men and women), which takes place roughly twice a year. Women are not allowed to become members of the executive. Any conflicts are dealt with as per the traditional system of management. All expenses are met through voluntary contributions.

A van sudhar sabha was formed with the following rules and regulations: 1. No free grazing
2. No fuelwood collection
3. Collective grass collection at a specified time, usually October-November

Land was temporarily divided between households for grass collection. A full-time guard was paid for by voluntary contributions in both cash and kind by the villagers.

Since the protection started, there has been an increase in fodder production. Soil erosion, which was a serious problem before the protection, has also stopped. An increase in vegetation cover has been observed with increase in tree and shrub diversity. Bird diversity has also increased; local species of grasses have regenerated and some have even resurfaced.

The relationship between the community and the forest department is hostile due to lack of legal support for the initiative under the forest laws. The community demands recognition as a Village Forest under the Indian Forest Act, 1927.