Local Common Property Resources and Child Health: Theory With Some Statistical Evidence From Zaire

Abstract

"For poor farm households in the tropics, common property resources are main sources of productive capital as well as direct consumption goods. This paper draws on household production theory and data from Zaire to investigate the links between availability of common property resources and child health. A household model with missing markets is used to trace the various effects of these resources on household production and consumption choices and, as a result, child health status. The data show that child nutritional status is significantly better on average in forested as compared to savanna areas, while there is more variation in nutritional status in savanna areas. The empirical results suggest the magnitude of impacts on rural households that could occur as population pressure and crop land demands lead to further deforestation in the region."