The relationship between forest cover and diet quality: a case study of rural southern Malawi

Abstract

The importance of forests in supporting the well-being of poor rural communities cannot be overstated, not only for improving food security but also for biodiversity conservation. For many people living in developing regions of the world, forests provide healthy and nutrient-dense foods which can improve overall diet quality and act as a safety net during times of hardship. Forests can also provide a source of income and facilitate certain agricultural practices, potentially allowing for poverty alleviation and mitigation. This study examined whether there was a relationship between forest cover and diet quality at the household level in rural southern Malawi. Nutrition data for 2084 households, collected as part of the 2010/11 Third Integrated Household Survey for Malawi (IHS3), were compared with a satellite-based land-cover map of Malawi. Households located in areas with a high percentage forest cover had significantly improved vitamin A adequacy compared to households in less forested areas. Also, vitamin A intake was significantly improved by consumption of wild plant foods. Forest cover was not associated with any other indicators of diet quality, but a number of social and demographic factors were significant determinants, including household size, education and access to markets. Further investigation of these associations is imperative at a time when forests are being cleared at an alarming rate to make way for agricultural production.

Dietary diversity and its determinants among Khasi and Garo indigenous women (15 to 49 years) in Meghalaya, northeast India

“…Vira et al (2015) has elucidated that forest and tree-based systems contribute to the nutritional security of communities and provide the needed micronutrients particularly for children and women. The study by Ickowitz et al (2016) found that people living close to forests in Indonesia consumed more nutritious foods and in Malawi households located in areas with a high percentage of forest cover had significantly improved vitamin A adequacy (Hall et al, 2019). In Meghalaya, there are unique systems of matriliny and matrilocality where women are custodians of the intergenerational property including land.…”

Effects of Indigenous Diet Iron Content and Location on Hemoglobin Levels of Ghanaians

“…Though proximity to forested areas was not considered in our study design, Tata's findings are suggestive that similar factors could be at play in our results. Analogous patterns between dietary diversity, micronutrient deficiencies such as IDA, and proximity to forested areas have been observed world-wide, especially in tropical regions [7,[18][19][20].…”

The Future of Food: Domestication and Commercialization of Indigenous Food Crops in Africa over the Third Decade (2012–2021)

“…They have supplemented the diet of rural families by providing essential micronutrients, antioxidants, polyphenols, and health benefits, especially for mothers and children. They also serve as an alternative for income (cash and barter), especially during times of food scarcity and economic hardship [16,78,[473][474][475][476][477], as such they play an important role in reducing the vulnerability of rural households to hunger and poverty in southern Africa [472]. In Zimbabwe, indigenous fruit trees can reduce this vulnerability by 33% during critical periods in the cropping season [473], also providing a coping strategy for farmers in Zambia and Malawi during periods of drought.…”