ISSN 0041-6436 Food and Agriculture An international journal Vol. 57 Organization of forestry and forest 2006/2 224 of the United Nations industries Editor: A. Perlis Contents Editorial Advisory Board: F. Castañeda, R. Czudek, T. Hofer, D. Kneeland, Editorial 2 J.P. Koyo, A. Perlis, L. Russo, T. Vahanen, M.L. Wilkie C.J.P. Colfer, D. Sheil, D. Kaimowitz and M. Kishi Emeritus Advisers: J. Ball, I.J. Bourke, C. Palmberg-Lerche Forests and human health in the tropics: some important connections 3 Regional Advisers: B.A. Wilcox and B. Ellis C. Carneiro, P. Durst, P. Koné, K. Prins Forests and emerging infectious diseases of humans 11 Unasylva is published in English, French and Spanish. Starting in 2006, payment is no longer Forestry and malaria control in Italy 19 required. Free subscriptions can be obtained by C. Holding Anyonge, G. Rugalema, D. Kayambazinthu, A. Sitoe sending an e-mail to [email protected] Subscription requests from institutions (e.g. and M. Barany libraries, companies, organizations, universities) Fuelwood, food and medicine: the role of forests in the response rather than individuals are preferred to make the to HIV and AIDS in rural areas of southern Africa 20 journal accessible to more readers. All issues of Unasylva are available online free J. Muriuki of charge at www.fao.org/forestry/unasylva Forests as pharmacopoeia: identifying new plant-based Comments and queries are welcome: treatments for malaria 24 [email protected] E. Dounias and A. Froment Reproduction and dissemination of material in this publication for educational or other When forest-based hunter-gatherers become sedentary: non-commercial purposes are authorized consequences for diet and health 26 without any prior written permission from the copyright holders provided the source is fully T. Johns and P. Maundu acknowledged. Reproduction of material in Forest biodiversity, nutrition and population health this publication for resale or other commercial in market-oriented food systems 34 purposes is prohibited without written permission of the Chief, Electronic Publishing Policy and K.R. Smith Support Branch, Information Division, FAO. Health impacts of household fuelwood use in developing countries 41 Articles express the views of their authors, not necessarily those of FAO. Health guidelines for vegetation fire events 45 Designations employed and presentation of material do not imply the expression of any J. Křeček and Z. Hořická opinion on the part of FAO concerning the legal Forests, air pollution and water quality: influencing health or development status of any country, territory, in the headwaters of Central Europe’s "Black Triangle" 46 city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The protective role of coastal forests in human security: The FAO publications reviewed in Unasylva fact or illusion? 50 may be ordered from any of the FAO sales agents listed on the inside back cover. FAO B. Moore, G. Allard and M. Malagnoux will process orders from countries where there are no sales agents. Contact the Sales and Itching for the woods: forests, allergies and irritants 51 Marketing Group, Information Division, FAO, L. O’Brien Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00153 Rome, Italy. “Strengthening heart and mind”: using woodlands to improve Tel.: (+39) 06 57051; mental and physical well-being 56 Fax: (+39) 06 5705 3360; Telex: 625852/625853/610181 FAO I; FAO Forestry 62 E-mail: [email protected] World of Forestry 65 Books 68 Cover photo: Women gathering medicinal plants (Combretum micranthum) from the forest, Guinea FAO/CFU000304/R. Faidutti 224english_book.indb 1 10/11/2006 11:20:04 EDITORIAL Forests and human health potential, as well as implications for local populations and natural resource conservation. Next, E. Dounias and A. Froment show how the settlement of nomadic forest dwellers exposes them to unfamiliar dis- eases and dietary influences – but also to societal ills such as uman health is defined by the World Health Organiza- economic insecurity, social prejudice and denial of traditional tion (WHO) as “a state of complete physical, mental rights, which can have an equally profound impact on health. Hand social well-being and not merely the absence of Thus in addition to improved medical care, sociopolitical disease or infirmity”. This issue of Unasylva examines how support and access to education are key to the healthy future forests and health are intertwined. of these groups . For the compilation of this issue, FAO is greatly indebted Forest ecosystems not only contribute to the diets and subsist- to the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), ence of forest dwellers; they also provide a significant portion which has been investigating this topic for the past three of the food and medicines consumed by urban populations. years. CIFOR researchers – especially E. Dounias and T. Johns and P. Maundu examine the link between forest C.J.P. Colfer – helped plan the issue, contributed to it and biodiversity and contemporary market-oriented food systems enhanced its quality as guest reviewers. The first article, by – providing an argument for integrating conservation of for- Colfer and colleagues, reviews recent CIFOR research to pro- est biodiversity with objectives of poverty reduction, food vide an overview of the state of human health in forest areas security and disease reduction in development policies. (which are often remote from medical care) and a summary Fuelwood is essential to the livelihoods of millions of of the causal links between forests and human health. households in developing countries, but when it goes up in A recently explored link is that between forest area change smoke it can threaten respiratory health. K.R. Smith highlights (particularly deforestation and forest fragmentation) and the efforts to ameliorate the problem, such as promoting improved emergence of new infectious diseases (e.g. HIV, Ebola virus) stoves. Smoke from forest fires can also threaten the health which often originate in animals. B.A. Wilcox and B. Ellis of large populations – to the extent that in Southeast Asia, highlight the most prominent forest-associated diseases and countries have adopted an Agreement on Transboundary summarize factors contributing to their spread: expansion of Haze Pollution. human populations into forest areas, with increased human Forests also have a role in improving the human environ- exposure to wildlife; modified abundance or dispersal of ment for better health – for example, by absorbing airborne pathogen hosts and vectors as a result of forest alteration; pollution (a recognized role of urban forests, for example); and altered hydrological functions that may favour water- by taking up heavy metals, radionuclides and other pol- borne pathogens. lutants from soil; and by helping to ensure water quality. Forest resource management measures can thus help J. Křeček and Z. Hořická document the role of watershed for- mitigate disease. An example is the use of afforestation to ests in mediating acid rain caused by air pollution in Central reclaim swamplands, which helped control malaria in early Europe’s “Black Triangle”. A short contribution examines twentieth-century Italy. the degree to which mangroves and other coastal forests can AIDS is having a large impact on woodland communities, help protect human lives by defending against tsunamis and particularly in Africa. C. Holding Anyonge et al. document other coastal hazards. the increased dependence of HIV- and AIDS-affected com- B. Moore, G. Allard and M. Malagnoux look at a prickly munities on forest resources – particularly for medicines, problem for some forest workers and others who spend time energy and food – and explore the resource management in the forest: allergens and irritants from forest insects, plants implications, highlighting some interventions that might help and trees which can cause skin and respiratory troubles. lessen the impact. Finally, L. O’Brien notes that many European countries are Local knowledge of medicinal plants forms the basis for focusing on using trees and woodlands to improve people’s traditional health care and is also used to derive modern mental and physical health and well-being – as illustrated by pharmaceuticals. Protecting the rights of rural people to share varied initiatives in the United Kingdom. the benefits from the use of their knowledge and resources These articles, far more than merely pointing out health is a challenge addressed by the Convention on Biological problems related to forests, all underline the role that the forest Diversity (CBD). A short contribution by J. Muriuki sum- sector and national forestry departments can and often already marizes recent efforts in Africa to develop herbal antimalarial do play in ensuring human well-being through responsible drugs (many based on forest species) – noting their enormous forest management. 224english_book.indb 2 10/11/2006 11:20:04 3 Forests and human health in the tropics: some important connections C.J.P. Colfer, D. Sheil, D. Kaimowitz and M. Kishi An overview of the state of human hy should foresters concern provide families with nutritious meals health in and around forests, themselves with issues of and maintain standards of hygiene. and the causal links between Whuman health? There are In forested areas, women’s roles also forests and human health. at least two important answers to this involve interaction with forests and other question. First, and perhaps most funda- natural resources (for non-wood forest mental, forestry activities affect human products [NWFPs], clean and abundant health and human health affects forests. water, forest agriculture, etc.). As the Second, the United Nations Millennium primary caretakers when other family Development Goals (MDGs) (see Box), members fall ill, women in forested which the world’s countries have com- areas often treat their family members mitted to meet by 2015, reflect increas- with forest products. Finally, women are ing global concern about human health. central players in decisions about family Four of the MDGs (1, 4, 5 and 6) address size; large families can adversely affect health directly.