Do forests relieve crop thirst in the face of drought? Empirical evidence from South China.

Highlights • Few empirical studies investigate the role of forests in agricultural adaptation to climate change. • Whether the presence of forest cover near rice-producing villages can reduce the adverse effects of drought on rice yield is examined. • Natural forests and not planted forests near villages provide protection for rice against drought. • Forest cover enhances the availability of irrigation water in the form of protective role against drought. • Forest ecosystem-based adaptation (EBA) is relevant in coping with climate change and enhancing food security. Abstract Although the importance of forests in climate change mitigation has been widely recognized, there has been a lack of empirical research regarding the role of forests in agricultural adaptation to climate change. This paper uses a careful designed household survey in South China that considers an exogenous shock of drought, to determine whether the presence of natural and planted forests near rice-producing villages can reduce the adverse effects of drought on rice yield. After controlling for local climate and water infrastructure, we find robust evidence that natural forests and not planted forests have significant positive effects on rice yield, due to their influence on the availability of water for irrigation. Although drought hinders farmers' access to irrigation, which negatively affects rice yield, forests near villages provide protection for rice against drought. These findings support the adoption of forest ecosystem-based adaptation (EBA) to cope with climate change and enhance food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]