Does Forest Loss Increase Human Disease? Evidence from Tanzania, Poster 26

This research utilizes economic and geospatial methods to analyze the relationship between deforestation and infectious disease in Tanzania. Specifically, we strive to establish whether a causal relationship exists between the... [ view full abstract ]

This research utilizes economic and geospatial methods to analyze the relationship between deforestation and infectious disease in Tanzania. Specifically, we strive to establish whether a causal relationship exists between the change in deforestation in communities and those communities’ incidence rates of malaria and other diseases. The methods for analyzing this relationship are borrowed from a previous study that found that, in Nigeria, forest loss has a large impact on the incidence of malaria. (Berazneva and Byker 2017). By replicating that study in a different region, we hope to elucidate whether the results are unique to Nigeria, or if the relationship is also significant in Tanzania. These results will then contribute to a broader range of evidence demonstrating the linkages between environmental change and health issues.