The contributions of community forests to rural prosperity in the United States

Abstract

Community forests (CFs) are a forest ownership and governance approach that enable community members and other key stakeholders to cooperatively manage local forests to produce a range of benefits that align with local community priorities. While well-studied internationally, there is a lack of research that systematically documents how CFs can contribute to rural prosperity in the U.S. amidst ongoing socioeconomic and environmental change. We adapt a framework developed to characterize the contributions of forests to rural prosperity in the international context to investigate the environmental, economic, and social benefits from CFs. In examining 18 in-depth CF case studies, we find that establishing CFs increases access to and control over local forests by local communities, allowing them to manage forests according to local priorities and needs. Economically, many CFs bring in earned income and employment, directly and indirectly, from forest products and services, and support local businesses through tourism and recreation. Social benefits of CFs include access to recreation opportunities, enhancing social relations, and building community identity, security, and empowerment. In extending existing rural prosperity frameworks, we propose that environmental benefits of CFs, including forest protection and restoration and reducing wildfire risk, also play a key role in enhancing rural prosperity. Evidence from these cases suggests that local governance of forests for the production of local benefits using a CF model is a promising approach to enhancing rural prosperity in the U.S.

Citation

Hajjar, Reem; Charnley, Susan; Frey, Gregory E.; McGinley, Kathleen; Schelhas, John; Cubbage, Frederick W. 2026. The contributions of community forests to rural prosperity in the United States. World Development. 207: 107509. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2026.107509.