More than 60% of protected lowland forests were lost to illegal logging in West Kalimantan, Indonesia, between 1985 and 2001. The non-profit Health in Harmony consulted with local communities to find out why. They learned that in order to pay for healthcare costs, many people had to resort to illegal logging. This included the cost of the healthcare itself, as well as travelling to use services, paying for food and housing, and loss of income while off sick from work.To respond to the community’s needs and protect the forests, the non-profit launched a local health clinic in 2007 in partnership with the district government and national park management. The clinic accepted non-cash payments, such as seedlings and handicrafts, and provided discounts on care based on the volume of logging in a patient’s community. To create lasting impact, conservation programmes were also set up and educational activities and training on sustainable livelihoods were offered.Over 28,400 people accessed the clinic, and the intervention resulted in a 70% reduction in deforestation.These case studies show that climate change mitigation presents a real health opportunity across many sectors. And, if governments implement more actions like these at scale, they could help secure a liveable future for all.
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How climate change mitigation actions can improve health | News | Wellcome
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