Users of community forests in western Nepal are kept out of resources they have conserved because of a ban on entry by security forces. For one year, the district administration of Dang has imposed such prohibitions in 17 community forests. Seven community forests in Banke are out of bounds after security posts have sprung up in the jungles. Army camps have also sprung up in Pyuthan and Salyan keeping the people away. Worse yet, security camps close to forests have begun to encroach on the woods. Local administrations in these districts have argued the felling is necessary for security reasons. But for villagers in these districts, forest resources are their lifeline. The ban on entry has been in place for more than a year now, says Bhim Bahadur Khadka of the Community Forestry User Group Federation of Dang, and it has affected our livelihood. Some communities may be defying the decrees but in most places, community forests are almost totally controlled by security forces. Any work related to forests now must first be approved by the army and user groups even need to get permission to sit for their regular meetings.