The effect of tree cover on child nutrition in Indonesia: Examining the relationship between tree cover and consumption of micronutrient-rich foods
The effect of tree cover on child nutrition in Indonesia: Examining the relationship between tree cover and consumption of micronutrient-rich foods
wca2014-LA-037 Amy Ickowitz1,* Dominic Rowland2, Bronwen Powell3 1Center for International Forestry ResearchThere is growing recognition of the contribution of forests to food security and nutrition. In rural areas with poor market access, forests may provide an essential source of nutritious food. Micronutrient deficiency is a serious problem in Indonesia. Approximately, 100 million Indonesians suffer from one or more micronutrient deficiencies, particularly in iron, zinc, and vitamin A. However, the effects of forest cover on food consumption patterns in Indonesia have not yet been studied.
To test the effect of forests on the consumption of nutritious foods, we looked at the relationship between tree cover and consumption of micronutrient-rich foods by children between the ages of one and five years in Indonesia. We used consumption data from the 2003 Indonesia Demographic Health Survey (DHS) combined with GIS tree cover data for 2003 from the Global Land Cover Facility (GLCF). Our results show that tree cover is positively associated with the frequency of Vitamin A rich fruit and animal source food consumption. There is no statistically significant relationship between tree cover and the frequency of leafy green vegetable consumption. Our results suggest that Indonesian children living in areas with high tree cover enjoy diets which are richer in micronutrient-dense foods.