Conceptual Links between Landscape Diversity and Diet Diversity: A Roadmap for Transdisciplinary Research.

Sylvia L R Wood,Jessica Ranieri,Jeroen C J Groot,Matthew E Fagan,Erica A H Smithwick,Stephen A Wood,Laura V Rasmussen,Gina Kennedy,Frédéric Baudron,Jeanine M Rhemtulla,Bronwen Powell,Terry C H Sunderland,Sarah E Gergel,Amy Ickowitz

doi:10.1093/biosci/biaa048

Abstract

Malnutrition linked to poor quality diets affects at least 2 billion people. Forests, as well as agricultural systems linked to trees, are key sources of dietary diversity in rural settings. In the present article, we develop conceptual links between diet diversity and forested landscape mosaics within the rural tropics. First, we summarize the state of knowledge regarding diets obtained from forests, trees, and agroforests. We then hypothesize how disturbed secondary forests, edge habitats, forest access, and landscape diversity can function in bolstering dietary diversity. Taken together, these ideas help us build a framework illuminating four pathways (direct, agroecological, energy, and market pathways) connecting forested landscapes to diet diversity. Finally, we offer recommendations to fill remaining knowledge gaps related to diet and forest cover monitoring. We argue that better evaluation of the role of land cover complexity will help avoid overly simplistic views of food security and, instead, uncover nutritional synergies with forest conservation and restoration.

Highlights

Malnutrition linked to poor quality diets affects at least 2 billion people
We develop conceptual links between diet diversity and forested landscape mosaics within the rural tropics
We argue that better evaluation of the role of land cover complexity will help avoid overly simplistic views of food security and, instead, uncover nutritional synergies with forest conservation and restoration

Summary

Overview Articles

Conceptual Links between Landscape Diversity and Diet Diversity: A Roadmap for Transdisciplinary Research. Such diversity in local landscapes can enhance dietary diversity by providing a variety of nutrient-dense food items in addition to what can be procured in markets It is precisely in such rural landscapes where forest and biodiversity loss are of concern (Dawson et al 2019), along with food security and poverty alleviation, further emphasizing the need to clarify the significance of forests in concert with other land cover types. To fully appreciate the role of markets, nutrition-sensitive landscapes should be studied as socioecological systems (Kalaba 2014) that involve the choices of local farmers and their relations with other beneficiaries (either directly or indirectly through markets or teleconnections) Such perspectives are critical to understanding the dynamics between rural areas and growing urban centers, inform debates on local versus global food sourcing, and indicate the scale and intensity of land use required to feed the global population with a diversified healthy diet

Filling gaps in measures of dietary intake

Improved monitoring and mapping of trees and forests

Conclusions

Findings

References cited