This study was conducted to investigate poverty and vulnerability of forest-dependent communities. The qualitative approach sought to determine and analyse the diversity of social protection needs and opportunities for forest-dependent communities in five districts and make recommendations as to action to address them. Sampling covered 29 villages and 322 households; 12 focus group discussions involved 229 men, 117 women and 23 young people, and 41 interviews with informants were carried out at the district level, with six at the national level.