Correlations between loss of biodiversity and global pandemics
The current rapid and dramatic spreading of COVID-19 opens again the debate on the loss of biodiversity as a contributing cause for global pandemics.
Urgent solutions have been introduced to decelerate the risk of infection among humans in a short- and medium-term. More long-term solutions can be put in place if habitats and ecosystems can be protected and taken into account within risk provisions. In fact, it is increasingly being accepted that biodiversity is not to be considered as a mere source for resources: its conservation is an indispensable premise for human health, healthy ecosystems and for the functioning of the economy.
Below you can find a selection of recent publications in English dedicated to the correlation between the loss of biodiversity and the danger of pandemics. This overview will regularly be updated and is not exhaustive.
- Damian Carrington, Pandemics result from destruction of nature, say UN and WHO. The Guardian.
- Sigal Samuel, Our environmental practices make pandemics like the coronavirus more likely. The story we tell about pandemics casts us as victims of nature. It’s the other way around. Vox.
- UNESCO, Links between Coronavirus and biodiversity: the scientific finding. Videointerview with: Eduardo Brondizio, Co-chair of the IPBES’ 2019 Global Assessment on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services; Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, Acting Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD); Shamila Nair-Bedouelle, Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences, UNESCO; Serge Morand, CNRS-CIRAD Researcher, ecologist and evolutionary biologist.
- Jasper Meya,Biodiversity as insurance: aligning economic stimulus packages with long-term nature conservation goals. Corona Sustainability Compass. Dr. Jasper Meya is environmental economist and works as senior researcher at the Biodiversity Economics Group, German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv).
- UN Environment Programme, UNEP steps up work on zoonotics, protecting environment to reduce pandemic risks.
- Jonathan Watts, 'Promiscuous treatment of nature' will lead to more pandemics – scientists. The Guardian.
- David Vetter, So You Want To Save Humanity? Manage Nature Like A Business. Forbes.
- Marie Quinney, As COVID-19 and nature are linked, so should be the recovery. GreenBiz. Marie Quinney is a Specialist, Nature Action Agenda at World Economic Forum (WEF).
- Damian Carrington, Halt destruction of nature or suffer even worse pandemics, say world’s top scientists. The Guardian.
- Robert Nasi and Tony Simons, The future beyond COVID-19 requires rebuilding planetary health. Landscapes News. Robert Nasi is Director General of CIFOR and the Deputy Director General for Research, Tony Simons is the Director General of the World Agroforestry Centre.
- WWF report "The loss of nature and rise of pandemics", English version is written by Barney Jeffries with support from Forest and Wildlife Practices. Initial Assessment by Isabella Pratesi.
- Rachel Koning Beals, Cookies and wet markets: Here’s where coronavirus and climate change collide. MarketWatch.
- Jan Dutkiewicz, Astra Taylor and Troy Vettese, The Covid-19 pandemic shows we must transform the global food system. The Guardian.
- Mark Buchanan, Why humans have themselves to blame for the coronavirus pandemic. ThePrint.
- James Hulse, There can be no return to business-as-usual for the finance sector. responsible investor. James Hulse is a representative of Global Canopy.
- UN Environment Programme, Six nature facts related to coronaviruses.
- Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, We need to fundamentally transform our relationship with the natural world to reduce the risk of disease. Independent. Elizabeth Maruma Mrema is the acting executive secretary for the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
- Maggie Rulli, Lindsey Griswold, Human impact on biodiversity loss may fuel future pandemics. abc News.
- University of California - Davis, The link between virus spillover, wildlife extinction and the environment: The same processes that threaten wildlife increase our risk of spillover. ScienceDaily.
- Eric Roston, Want to Stop the Next Pandemic? Start Protecting Wildlife Habitats. TIME.
- James Dinneen, COVID-19 disrupts a major year for biodiversity policy and planning. Mongabay.
- UN Environment Programme, Coronaviruses: are they here to stay?
- Zakri Abdul Hamid, Nature is calling, how will you respond? The Straits Times. Zakri Abdul Hamid is a senior fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia and founding chair of IPBES.
- Moreno Di Marco, Opinion: Sustainable development must account for pandemic risk. .
- Damian Carrington, Coronavirus: 'Nature is sending us a message’, says UN environment chief. The Guardian. Damian Carrington is Environment Editor of the Guardian.
- Paul Polman, ‘This is a wake-up call. We must live within our planetary boundaries to avoid future pandemics'. Ethical Corporation. Paul Polman is co-founder of Imagine, vice-chair of the UN Global Compact, and chairman of the International Chambers of Commerce.
- John Vidal, 'Tip of the iceberg': is our destruction of nature responsible for Covid-19? The Guardian.
- Daniel Mira-Salama, Coronavirus and the ‘Pangolin Effect’: Increased exposure to wildlife poses health, biosafety and global security risks. World Bank Blogs. Daniel Mira-Salama is environmental specialist at the World Bank.
- Sonia Shah, Think Exotic Animals Are to Blame for the Coronavirus? Think Again. The Nation. Sonia Shah is a science journalist and author.
- John Scott, How biodiversity loss is hurting our ability to combat pandemics. World Economic Forum. John Scott is Head of Sustainability Risk, Zurich Insurance Group.
- Jayashree Nandi, Scientists link outbreaks such as Covid-19 to biodiversity loss. hinudstantimes. Jayashree Nandi is an Environment journalist.
- UN Environment Programme, Coronavirus outbreak highlights need to address threats to ecosystems and wildlife.