Synopsis (short abstract)Forests provide, directly or indirectly, important health benefits for all people – not only
those whose lives are closely intertwined with forest ecosystems, but also people far
from forests, including urban populations. Recognition of the importance of forests for
food security and nutrition has significantly increased in recent years, but their role in
human health has received less attention. Nutrition and health are intrinsically connected:
Good nutrition cannot be achieved without good health and vice versa. Therefore, when
addressing linkages with forests, it is essential to address health and nutrition at the same
time. Yet forests also provide a wide range of benefits to human health and well-being
beyond those generally associated with food security and nutrition. This publication
examines the many linkages of forests and human health and offers recommendations
for creating an enabling environment in which people can benefit from them. Designed
for practitioners and policy-makers in a range of fields – from forestry to food security,
from nutrition and health to land-use and urban planning – it is hoped that the paper will
stimulate interest in expanding cross-sectoral collaboration to a new set of stakeholders, to
unlock the full potential of forests’ contributions to greater human well-being.
