How Deforestation Could Lead to More Pandemics | NowThis Earth

'When we disturb natural ecosystems, we put people in contact or closer contact with wildlife' — Here's how deforestation could lead to more pandemics.

Researchers say 75% of recently emerging diseases affecting humans came from animals. COVID-19 is believed to originate from bats. And deforestation could make the problem worse.

'It's sort of a probability game,' explains Andrew MacDonald, a disease ecologist at the Earth Research Institute.

In 2019, the tropics lost 11.9 million hectares of tree cover, which means forests are shrinking — often due to farming, livestock, mining and drilling — and ecosystems are disrupted. This increases the risk of diseases jumping from animals to humans.

'Maybe we can plan land use in a way that sustainably balances our needs with conservation of forests,' says MacDonald.

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[PremierCCGuyMMXVI]

Here’s one way to look at global warming: Don’t think as these past years as the hottest on record, but the coolest to come. In the United States, the warmest years now, will become the coolest years by 2100 as the overall average temperature increases. Remember when 1998 was the hottest year on record? It’s now not even in the top 15 for warmest ever as years since have been a lot warmer. 2016 was the hottest year to date But 2020’s record heat may surpass 2016 and by 2050. 2016’s Heat May not even be in the top 20 for hottest on record.

Why am I bringing this up? Because as earth gets a lot warmer, think of all the impacts we will see. Heat waves, droughts, floods, hurricanes, blizzards, wildfires, and more

[Pontaa]

It's so sad to see these happening to our mother earth & indirectly we are to blame. It's been 2years being a vegetarian just taking a small step at a time. We together should save our home 🌍

[courtz]

So glad agroforestry it starting to be implemented. Then the land doesn't have to be destroyed to farm crops.

[mikeserrano]

Let us convince our Goverments to save our Rain Forest.

[priscillajimenez]

I totally get when is being said here but I have an honest question. So what about people especially ling ago who lived among the forests and wilderness? Or did they get immune over generation, and that's why certain groups of people use to contract certain diseases from other groups? Just something I was wondering. It's kinda scary to think there are still untapped diseases out there...

[Mr_Chris__]

People need to curb their over consumption of resources. How often does the average household redecorate? Every 5 years? Why not push it to 10 years or 15 years? The less frequently people redecorate, the rate of deforestation will slow down.

[danilogiusti]

Hold tight, 2020 is just the beginning... The roller coaster just start to go down.




To go up will depend from each of us to work together... Otherwise will be the end of human kind.

[beelotus]

These Are All Caused By Human Rights Without Moral Values. What Goes Around Will Comes Around. We Are All Responsible For Our Happiness And Misery.

[bentcn]

Can they minimize deforestation while minimizing wildfires?

[autumngreenleaf]

Thanks. One thing to note here, the source of the pandemic has three possibilities. One being bats. But there are two more. Sorry I'm unable to recall the other two but you should check that.

[non-applicable.]

The single best thing you can do for the environment is going vegan!