This extensive report examines the state of human health in forests and the casual links between forests and human health. Focus is on human dependence on forests for food and their nutritional contributions and nutrition-related problems that affect forest peoples. Disease and other health problems, such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, Ebola, mercury poisoning and some 20 other tropical diseases are related to human and forest interactions. The publication also explores the biophysical properties of medicinal species, human uses of medicinal forest products, traditional healers, and conflicts over the distribution of profits from forest medicines. The report concludes with cultural interpretations of human health among forest peoples, and observations about the current state of our knowledge, policy recommendations and suggestions for future research.