Development projects conceived now are rarely expected to have a life of more than five years, perhaps ten years at most. Looking back over more than twenty years of project experience in community forestry - itself grounded on an integrated development project of a similar time span - is thus a rare opportunity. Of course trees and forests require a longer establishment period than many other development interventions, and that is part of the rationale for a long time frame – but not the only one. The project has also sought to promote social change in favour of the poor and disadvantaged, and it was recognised both by those involved in the project and by independent evaluators that this is not rapidly achieved.