Impacts of climate change on forest-harvested food and the nutrition of children and families in Lao PDR

Background: Forests are an important source of food, medicine, and income for rural families in Laos, especially ethnic communities. Non-timber forest Products (NTFPs) contribute significantly to food security and income through consumption and sales. However, the impact of climate changes on agricultural productivity leads to increasing land demand for cash crops has caused significant changes in forestland and resource use, posing threats to food security and livelihoods. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate how climate change affects the availability of forest-harvested food and its subsequent impact on children’s nutrition in communities near forests, utilizing descriptive and regression analysis to understand the influencing factors. Methods: A cross-sectional mixed-method study included a desk review, 259 household surveys, 8 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), and 4 case studies in six different villages of three provinces (north, central, and southern) of Laos. Results: The study found 90% of households have observed a reduction in forest-harvested food in the last few years because of overexploitation of forests (75%) and changes in weather patterns (25%). 84% of children consumed forest foods regularly. Logistics regression analysis showed that children (6-59 months) who consume forest products more than twice a week are about 2.13 times more likely to have the outcome of not being underweight compared to those who do not, holding other factors constant. Conclusion: Climate change has reduced the availability of forest-harvested food, adversely affecting children’s nutrition. In response, communities have adopted alternative coping strategies. To mitigate the impact of climate change, it is recommended to implement climate monitoring, promote sustainable land use, and empower communities to enhance resilience and food security.