A new expanded Policy Brief published by the Science-Policy Program (SciPol) of the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) presents consolidated scientific evidence on the relationship between forests and human health in the Asian region. Source: Timberbiz
It aims to support policymakers and stakeholders in Asia and beyond, including government officials at all levels as well as global international organizations, in their ambition to ensure sustainable development that takes into consideration the health of humans and nature.
The publication titled “Forests for Human Health in Asia. An Expanded Policy Brief” is based on the detailed analysis of information contained in the global assessment report “Forests and Trees for Human Health: Pathways, Impacts, Challenges and Response Options” (IUFRO World Series Volume 41, March 2023), which was developed in the framework of the Global Forest Expert Panels (GFEP) joint initiative of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF).
Additional research focusing on Asia was carried out to complement the findings of the global assessment.
The global assessment confirms that forests, trees, and green spaces have immense potential to contribute to the mental, physical, and social health and wellbeing of humans at all stages of life, from the prenatal stage to the elderly.
They provide nutritious food and medicines, support climate change mitigation and adaptation, filter air and water pollutants, and offer areas for recreation. At the same time, poor practices of conservation and management of forests can result in adverse effects on human health with the emergence of zoonotic diseases, forest fires, and allergic outcomes.
“While forests are an important component of climate change and biodiversity policies, there is a lack of awareness in Asia and elsewhere of the complex and vital relationship between forests and human health and wellbeing. Decision-makers need to include forests and human health relationships in relevant policies urgently, as the various global and regional challenges continue to influence both sectors,” Dr Xiaoqi Feng, Professor, University of New South Wales, Australia said.
Health outcomes of forests and trees differ between urban, rural, and forest-dependent communities. In the context of Asia, although most forests are publicly owned (90% in South and Southeast Asia and 88% in Western and Central Asia, for example), a significant population in the region are forest-dependent communities.
Approximately 481-579 million Indigenous People and Local Communities (IPLCs) in Asia depend directly on forests for food, medicine, and livelihoods, all of which affect health and wellbeing.
Asia has seen large-scale transitions recently, such as a population shift from rural to urban areas. The speed and scale of urbanisation and population growth in cities across Asia over the last 50-70 years have been unprecedented.
This has coincided with a shift in disease burden, where increase in life expectancy and decline in some communicable infectious diseases and infant mortality have been replaced by rising levels of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.
In fact, the rise in NCDs in Asia is among the highest in the world and aligns with processes of urbanisation that have fostered car dependency, sedentary and stressful lifestyles, and the adoption of caloric ‘Westernised’ diets.
Several case studies of natural ecosystem restoration and reconstruction in Asia have already demonstrated the potential to strengthen synergies between health and other benefits from forests while minimising trade-offs.
