4.1.1 Rules and regulationIndigenous forest management systems are based onthe local villagers’ definitions of the resources. Thecustomary rights of the users were recognised and identified in indigenous systems, and later they were legalisedwith indigenous codes.4 Indeed, through the study ofindigenous forest systems, it has been revealed that sometraditional local communities have long practised sustainable management without external influences byregulating access to and use of their forest, and by planting trees in their own ways to regenerate forests. Thereare many places in Nepal where forest cover has improved and farm land has been gradually returned to forest through practising well-organised management systems with communal regulations and rules (Carter andGilmour 1989). This can be possible in communitieswhere the function of the traditional voluntary organisations is well supported by the co-operation of individualvillagers although there are no written laws, rules, orregulations.