The vast majority of Mexican forestland is under collective tenure (70%). This type of tenure has been the base for the development of commercial community forestry in different regions of the country. Community forest ownership, forest management and forest production have proven to be important bases of local conservation strategies. In recent years the social and environmental gains of community forestry experience are threaten by an increasing out-migration, that often undermines collective action and conservation of communal forests. Our of study explores some of out-migration impacts on local governance, social capital and forest management. We also consider the different relations, rights and duties that migrants maintain with their communities of origin.