Verdant vitality: forests benefit child health in China

Abstract

This study examines the impact of forests on child health in China, the world’s largest developing country with significant forest cover growth over the past two decades. The empirical strategy links individual health outcomes with county-level forest cover and employs an instrumental variable approach to address endogeneity concerns. Results show that forests positively affect child health in both the short and long terms. Short-term benefits are particularly prominent in regions without access to tap water, while long-term benefits are more pronounced in urban areas. This evidence supports the role of forests in improving water and air quality. Our calculation suggests that associated health benefits amount to approximately 99.12–140.84 billion RMB, offsetting 15–20% of the total costs incurred for forest conservation and afforestation in China between 1998 and 2016. This study highlights the potential of Nature-based Solutions for addressing societal challenges.