View article

Background Micronutrient malnutrition affects about a third of the world's population, and children in low-income and middle-income countries are particularly vulnerable. Consequences include impaired cognitive and physical development, and increased childhood morbidity and mortality. Previous studies suggest that exposure to forests helps alleviate micronutrient malnutrition by increasing dietary diversity. However, evidence about the effects of forests on diet diversity is scarce and mostly based on case studies with poor study design and little relevance to global policies. Furthermore, how the effects of forests on diet diversity vary between and within communities has not received due attention; though such information could point to actions needed to improve the effects of forests on nutrition. Our study aims to strengthen the evidence of the effects of exposure to forests on dietary diversity, and establish how …