Access to Human Health Benefits of Forests in Rural Low and Middle-Income Countries: A Literature Review and Conceptual Framework

Forests have been increasingly recognized for their beneficial contribution to human health, in addition to their established roles in biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation, and poverty alleviation. Though forests are linked to some negative health outcomes, the effects of forests on human health are overwhelmingly beneficial. This paper discusses a constellation of interconnected factors that influence access to forest health benefits in rural communities in low- and middle-income countries.