A group of scientists belonging to the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) has just published an article with a strong message: the only species responsible for the pandemic is humans.
More than 70% of the new diseases that affect us have their origin in wild fauna and domestic animals. This is not new but, due to human activities, we have more and more contact with animals and, therefore, the chances of zoonoses increase. On the other hand, deforestation, the fragmentation of ecosystems and in general all the actions by which man invades the spaces of wild fauna also cause many animals to move and, again, come into contact with human populations. .
Two years ago, the scientific journal Frontiers in Microbiology published an article entitled: “ Bats, coronavirus and deforestation: towards the emergence of new infectious diseases? ”. In this article, the scientists predicted that a new coronavirus could emerge in Asia, due, among other factors, to the fact that this area of the world suffers from very strong environmental pressures such as deforestation and habitat fragmentation.
Environmental degradation, dense populations and globalization: the perfect storm
The transmission of viruses from wild or domestic animals to man is something that has been happening over the centuries, but today something has changed. In addition to the fact that, as we have already mentioned, our relationship with the environment is much more destructive and certain practices such as the illegal capture and trade of wild species occur with more intensity, each time we are more, we live more agglomerated and, the worst: we we move more. These two factors are decisive for the new diseases transmitted by animal viruses to spread throughout the globe and cause pandemics as destructive as those of SARS-CoV-2.
“Pandemics are caused by activities that put a large number of people in direct contact and often come into conflict with the animals that carry these pathogens,” explains the article published by IPBES. “Rampant deforestation, uncontrolled expansion of agriculture, intensive farming, mining and infrastructure development, as well as exploitation of wild species have created the perfect storm for the spread of disease from wild animals to people .”
This is just the beginning, scientists warn. If we continue down this path, more and more pandemics will come with overwhelming consequences. In their article, the experts denounce that, in these times of economic crisis, in many sectors it is becoming convenient to relax environmental standards and support activities such as intensive agriculture, long-distance transport such as airlines and the energy sectors. that depend on fossil fuels. However, these actions can mean bread for today and hunger for tomorrow: radical and urgent change is needed if we want to prevent the emergence of new pandemics.
Health at the center
In their article, the scientists propose to adopt an approach called “One Health”, which is taken into account at all levels of decision-making, recognizing that there are very complex interconnections between our health, our activities and our environment. “For example, the gains from deforestation often end up in private hands, but it is public health systems and local communities that often pay the price for the resulting disease outbreaks and pests,” they explain. “The single health approach would ensure that better decisions are made that take into account the long-term costs and consequences of all development actions for people and nature.”
An opportunity to do things differently
The authors of the letter are aware that the change they are talking about will be costly and involves a series of profound transformations, but they warn that they will be nothing compared to the price we are already paying with the current pandemic. ” We can emerge from the current crisis stronger and more resilient than ever, but doing so means choosing policies and actions that protect nature, so that nature protects us .”
