The densely populated, forested landscapes of South Asia pose a particular challenge to an understanding of the dynamics of forest change. Of the six countries in this region, four – Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal – have experienced increases in forest area and/or in forest density, which cannot be directly attributed to commonly identified drivers of forest change, such as changes in population density, affluence, or development. A meta-analysis of 24 case studies finds that the dominant pathway to reforestation in South Asia appears to be that of protection and planting of trees in degraded forests. A second, commonly encountered pathway is farm agroforestry, leading to increased tree cover on privately owned lands. Reforestation on abandoned unproductive lands does not appear to be significant in South Asia. An in-depth study of four landscapes located in India and Nepal provides greater insight into the human drivers of reforestation and regrowth. Taken together, these analyses indicate that the commitment of national governments towards protection and the devolution of forest management to local communities have been critical in facilitating reforestation in this region.