Resumo. The study aimed to evaluate the results of community forest management of the Caatinga dry forest. Interviews were conducted with 51 farmers in three rural settlements in the Paraíba state, Brazil. The results indicate that there is a lack of productive activities in the rural settlements, and that farmers depend on social programs, retirement pensions and have to work out of the settlements to complement the family income. The forest management proved to be an activity that generates labor and income for the farmers. Annual amounts received by settled families ranged from R$ 500.00 to R$12,150.00 depending on the firewood stock at the forests and the firewood logging organization. Main difficulties were the lack of buyers and the low price of the firewood due to the high level of informality among consumers. Results indicate that the forest management implementation ensures the forest conservation, with 63% of forest cover maintenance in settlements areas. Environmental enforcement improvement and bureaucracy reduction can stimulate the practice of community forest management.