This article provides new insights on community involvement in natural forest management. The examples used are two woodlands reserves in Tanzania, both of which were visibly not being conserved under government management. In 1994/1995 communities living on the edge of these forests secured the ''return'' of these woodlands to their own control. The article briefly describes the mechanisms they have since used to manage the forests, and their success. The author has acted as the facilitator in these developments. Her argument is that modern strategies of joint forest management that share the use of forests with communities, or that involve communities as partners in the work of management but retain ultimate control, cannot hope to obtainthe level oflocal responsibility neededfor self-reliant, cost-effective, and sustainable conservation management. Rather, it is when authority is vested inthe community, and when the state acts as adviser only, that a meaningful transformationinforest protection and management occurs.