Researchers have found a link between deforestation and increasing malaria rates across developing nations. Nearly 130 million hectares of forest - an area almost equivalent in size to South Africa -- have been lost since 1990 according to a recent report by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations. Deforestation is not a natural phenomenon but rather results predominantly from human activities said lead researcher Kelly Austin from Lehigh University in Bethlehem Pennsylvania US. Human-induced changes to the natural environment can have a powerful impact on malaria rates she said. The new study of 67 less developed malaria-endemic
