This dissertation examines the relationship between forest conservation, forest dependence, and livelihood development of extractive communities in the tri-national frontier region of Madre de Dios, Peru, Acre, Brazil, and Pando, Bolivia in Western Amazonia. While the focus of the dissertation is on Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa), this regionally-important non-timber forest product (NTFP) is used to illustrate broader issues related to community-based forest management. This study assessed community-based forest management from three different perspectives: (1) an analysis of land use land cover change in community-managed forests through the use of satellite and survey data; (2) an exploration of the causes and effects of Brazil nut thefts, and resolution of such thefts; and, (3) a comparison of the environmental and economic outcomes of organic, Fair Trade, and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification of Brazil nuts. The first set of results demonstrated minimal deforestation and extremely high forest income dependency in extractive communities. In 2000–2005, deforestation occurred in already fragmented areas and along roads, with most deforestation in Acre and least in Pando. From 2002 to 2007, higher agricultural income was positively correlated with reported forest clearing at the household level in Pando and Madre de Dios, whereas higher Brazil nut income was correlated with less forest cleared. In Acre, government aid, larger households, and higher value of livestock assets were correlated with forest clearing. The second set of results highlighted more Brazil nut thefts in Pando when compared with Acre, likely due to land titling processes in Pando that disregarded traditional forest use, settlement patterns that disconnected producers from their forest resources, and higher nut dependence. Both threat of theft and resource dependence affected nut harvest regimes in Pando. The third set of results showed that organic and Fair Trade Brazil nut certification schemes were associated with better post-harvest practices and higher prices, while producers certified by the FSC in Peru adopted practices related to pre-harvest planning and tree health. These findings contribute to our understanding of the role of community-based forest management in tropical forest conservation and livelihood development.