It is not clear exactly how the protection of forests by the local villagers began. It is believed that protection started spontaneously in some villages and then spread to others. Initially only the khesra Forests were taken up but later the protection extended to the reserved forests too. The conditions which seem to have encouraged community protection and management of forests include: 1. High scarcity of fuelwood and construction material; 2. Almost uniform dependence of all sections of society on forests, particularly for fuelwood and construction material; 3. Possibility of uniform distribution of material benefits;