Abstract

How does conservation policy shape child health? Using repeated cross-sectional household surveys from 2008 to 2021 and a newly database on Protected Areas (PAs) in Madagascar, I examine the impact of PAs on childhood anemia through a difference-in-differences estimation strategy. Results indicate that PAs reduce hemoglobin levels and increase anemia rates by 6 pp, with boys and children from poor households being more severely affected. This negative health impact is partly caused by a rise in malaria occurrence and a reduced intake of iron-rich foods, despite the improvements in access to drinking water and poverty reduction. These findings highlight the complex relationship between conservation efforts and health conditions in local communities.

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