A step-by-step progress towards constituent assembly through a series of steps consisting of Comprehensive Peace Accord, Interim Constitution, Arm Management and the Interim Government has grown optimism amongst war-wrecked Nepali people. They have now started to speculate that bloody conflict is going to be finally replaced by peace and social harmony. The paper, however, points out that such attainments at the central level may not necessarily lead to peace at the grass roots, where a number of challenging tasks impend. While huge challenge lies in reverting about and maintaining permanent peace, immediate challenge lies in repatriating, rehabilitating, compensating and reassimilating the displaced people who, may have been spending a sorry life in unknown locations both inside and outside the country. By referring to an initiative in Sankhuwasabha, and by sketching out the very characteristics of community forestry, it is argued that community forestry user groups may have a role to play in the peace process by being part and parcel in it. Possible role of community forestry towards ensuring permanent peace is also briefly touched upon. The paper ends by presenting some suggestions for more work.
