Forests Resources Significantly Reduce Food Scarcity

New research from the University of Notre Dame highlights the significant role forests play in reducing hunger and promoting sustainability in low- and middle-income countries. The study, conducted in Liberia, found that households engaged in forest-based activities—such as timber collection, bushmeat hunting, and gathering edible plants—experienced an 84% reduction in food scarcity.

The research, published in the journal Food Security, was led by Daniel C. Miller, an associate professor of environmental policy at Notre Dame’s Keough School of Global Affairs, and co-authored by Festus Amadu, a former postdoctoral researcher at Notre Dame and now an assistant professor of climate policy at Florida Gulf Coast University. The study utilized data from a 2019 survey conducted by the Liberian government and the World Bank, which collected information from nearly 3,000 households living near forests across Liberia’s 15 counties.

The findings underscore the importance of forests in enhancing food security, particularly in Liberia, where 69% of the land is forested. Forests offer a critical food source for rural households, especially during periods of agricultural shortfall. The study revealed that households engaged in forest-based activities faced food insecurity for nearly three fewer months each year compared to those who did not engage in such activities.

Miller emphasized that while forests cannot replace agriculture on a large scale, they are a crucial supplementary food source, particularly in regions vulnerable to extreme weather, political instability, and declining agricultural productivity. The resilience of forests to these challenges makes them an increasingly vital component in addressing food insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa, including Liberia.

The study’s methodology, which involved analyzing forest-specific data on a national scale, could be applied in other forest-rich but economically poor countries to better understand how forests contribute to reducing food insecurity. Miller noted the potential for this research to inform national policies, advocating for the inclusion of forests in broader development and well-being strategies.

The research was supported by the Forests & Livelihoods: Assessment, Research and Engagement (FLARE) network, with funding from Notre Dame Research, the Notre Dame Environmental Change Initiative, and the Keough School. Miller and Amadu plan to further investigate how community-level forest governance impacts the benefits that nearby populations can derive from forests. The study’s findings, Miller noted, have significant implications for policymakers focused on forest management and conservation, reinforcing the value of well-managed forests in national development strategies.