Did you know that around 70 percent of infectious diseases
that affect people start in animals, including wildlife
and domestic animals like pigs and chickens.
These diseases have been responsible
for all recent outbreaks and pandemics that have threatened our Global health
and economies, including HIV and Ebola.
We're seeing an increasing number of dangerous diseases like covid-19 coming from animals,
but in nature these diseases
pose no threat to people and are in fact part of nature's natural system.
So how have people been so affected by this new disease?
Well when we over exploit nature,
we disrupt the balance of that natural system,
which then puts us at risk.
So by destroying forests and natural habitats taking wildlife
out of their homes, intensively farming animals
and bringing people livestock and wildlife into close contact.
We create the perfect situation
for these diseases to spread from animals to us.
Another link to pandemics that maybe a surprise is deforestation.
But how would the two linked?
In their natural habitat,
diseases circulate harmlessly in wildlife populations,
but when we chop down, burn
and destroy the habitats that many wild animals call home,
often to use the land for livestock and agriculture.
We're putting ourselves at risk
and in some cases it can be deadly.
With nowhere left for these wild animals to go due to deforestation,
they're forced into into closer contact with each other, our farm animals
and people.
This means that natural diseases are now at risk of spreading between animals and to us.
As we use up more land for agriculture to meet growing demands,
we're moving closer and closer to wildlife habitats.
This together with having large numbers of farm animals in close proximity
is creating the ideal situation
for the emergence and transmission of infectious disease.
Another way disease is spread is through the wildlife trade.
Here wild animals are taken from their natural habitat,
and sometimes even bred in captivity before being transported to be used by people across the world
for things such as food medicine and pets.
So the diseases that normally circulate harmlessly amongst wild animals
in their natural habitats, can spill over to infect people and spread to become a pandemic.
Along with climate change and losing habitats.
The overexploitation of wildlife through the wildlife trade is one of the
biggest threats facing nature across the world.
So should we stop the trade of wildlife?
It's a complex issue as some of the world's poorest people rely on wild animal products to survive.
So certain strict laws and bans
even with the best intentions, could simply push the trade underground
and contribute to the illegal trade, just like it did with ebola.
So instead we need to focus on tackling the illegal wildlife trade
and making sure that the you of wildlife across the world is safe, sustainable
and well-regulated.
By doing this we can protect threatened species
and their habitats as well as helping to lower the risk of infectious diseases spreading.
So what can we do to prevent future pandemics?
We need a plan for our health
and the health of our planet
because they are one and the same.
We need to protect our forests and habitats
because every area lost increases the risk of a new pandemic.
We need to build a more a sustainable food system
so instead of continuing with intensive farming and expanding our farmlands into wild areas.
We need to build a system that works in partnership with nature
without creating a breeding ground for new viruses.
And lastly. We need to tackle illegal wildlife trade
and make sure that any interaction with wildlife across the world is safe,
sustainable and well-regulated.
So it all comes down to protecting nature.
if we can look after our planet and ensure that the balance is as it should be
we can reduce the risk of future pandemics.
We need to be working in partnership with nature rather than against it.
We really hope you found this video informative.
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