The sustainability of mountain ecosystems is of concern due to changes and pressures such as those that occur during expansion of urban functions. In the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh, India, and particularly within the town of Manali, such urban expansion has been proceeding at an accelerated rate for the past three decades. As in many Himalayan regions, sustainability in this area is significantly linked to the forest; forest products and forests play an integral role in maintaining the balance of the ecosystem. The setting and the general scope of this research from a larger Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute project, "'Urban Development and Environmental Impacts in a Mountain Context'". The research objectives of this thesis included exploring newly initiated Joint Forest Management projects in the area, examining the role of women in the management of forests at the village level, and the analysis of institutional responses to pressures on the forest social-ecological system resulting from urban development. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)