Collective action and capacity building locally are key elements in overcoming poverty through agroforestry and community silviculture. Starting from extreme poverty, degraded soils and a reluctance to plant trees, the communities of Zambrana Abajo in the Dominican Republic were able to confront and change repressive forestry policies, obtaining the first legal right amongst smallholders to harvest timber and establish new livelihoods related to forestry and agroforestry. This study was carried out in order to identify the success factors and the lessons learned in this process. Qualitative research methods were used, including participant observation, review of literature, in-depth interviews with key informants, and semi-structured interviews guided by the Community Capitals Framework. It was found that community participation, local knowledge and the authorities’ recognition of it had an impact on forestry policy and overcoming poverty through livelihood diversification thanks to harvesting the species Acacia mangium Willd. The level of understanding about the benefits of trees influenced farmers' decisions to participate in agroforestry and community silviculture projects. The possibility of harvesting timber also influenced farmers' decision to participate and in the diffusion of this initiative to other parts of the country. These findings demonstrate that human capital and its recognition are relevant in improving quality of life for families and improving the natural environment.

当地的集体行动和能力建设是通过农林业和社区造林克服贫困的关键因素。从极端贫困，土壤退化和不愿种植树木开始，多米尼加共和国的Zambrana Abajo社区能够面对和改变压迫性的林业政策，在小农中获得了第一个合法权利来采伐木材并建立与林业有关的新生计和农林业。进行这项研究是为了确定成功因素和在此过程中吸取的教训。使用了定性研究方法，包括参与者观察，文献回顾，与主要信息提供者的深入访谈以及以社区资本框架为指导的半结构化访谈。发现社区参与，马占相思。对树木益处的了解程度影响了农民参与农林业和社区造林项目的决定。砍伐木材的可能性也影响了农民参与该计划以及将该计划传播到该国其他地区的决定。这些发现表明，人力资本及其认可与改善家庭生活质量和改善自然环境有关。