Nature Loss In Part To Blame For Pandemics - WWF

The World Wide Fund for Nature’s (WWF) country director for Zambia, Nachilala Nkombo, has warned that damage to the natural world has increased the likelihood for pandemics such as Covid-19 to occur. 

In a joint statement with the Zambia Environmental Management Agency to mark World Environment Day on June 5th, Ms Nkombo said that there was strong evidence linking human-induced environmental changes such as deforestation and poorly managed wildlife to the conditions that lead to pandemics.

The two organisations stated that biodiversity is the foundation that supports all life on earth and affects every aspect of human health and the environment.

They added that when people destroy biodiversity they destroy the system that supports human life.

“It is estimated that globally, about one billion cases of illness and millions of deaths occur every year from diseases caused by coronaviruses; and about 75 per cent of all emerging infectious diseases [are] transmitted to people by animals,” they statement read.

Scientists now believe that many zoonotic infections (transferring from animals to humans) such as the coronavirus are caused by changes to biodiversity, as deforestation causes a loss of habitat for many wild animals, bringing them and their diseases in closer contact with humans. 

Ms Nkombo explained that investing in environmental sustainability serves as an insurance policy for human health and well-being. 

 She added that the natural world is currently facing unprecedented challenges.

“Nature is declining at an alarming rate, unprecedented in human history with over one million plant and animal species at risk of extinction. Wildlife populations have declined by 60 per cent globally in the last 40 years and in Zambia we have seen a decline in many of our wildlife species that have come under immense pressure due to poaching,” she said. 

She advised that Zambia set its sights on improving its commitment to protecting nature.

“As we embark on a process of redefining the next set of our national development ambitions and targets, higher targets for not only climate change but also biodiversity are necessary and should be at the centre of national development planning and economic recovery strategy. Zambia must heighten its ambition to become #Nature Positive by 2030”. 

WWF Country Director for Zambia Nachilala Nkombo