In the last two decades, there has been increasing interest in the potential of small-scale non-timber forest product collection and other low-impact uses of the forest for achieving forest conservation. Experience suggests however that such uses do not guarantee conservation and economic outcomes.rnThis book document and compares methods to assess option for forest-based livelihoods and their outcomes. The contribution are based on the premise thet livelihood and conservation goals can be best achieved by improving information flows abaout changes in the environment, and the impacts of forest use. The 16 authore report on the strengths and weaknesses of methods that have been tried in the field. their experiences and analysis should be of interest to practitioners everywhere concerned with developing lovelihood option for people living in forests.