Deforestation plays an important role in the development of animal-to-human diseases. Scientists around the world warn that there is a high probability that another epidemic will also occur in East Asia and Brazil. The good news, however, is that we can still avoid them.

One of the most pressing problems in the world is the protection of the environment, the climate crisis and sustainability. We must pay special attention to these, so we must also prioritize them. Hence the address of our new subdivision: Zhvg.

The link between the coronavirus epidemic and the destruction of the environment has now been clarified. The loss of biodiversity increases the development of zoonotic viruses, that is, from animals to humans. The more we destroy the animals’ natural habitat and get closer to them, the greater the possibility that their diseases will spread to us. Wuhan’s livestock market has also been identified as the starting point for the coronavirus epidemic, and the UN director of biodiversity has also raised his voice for the closure of similar ones.

Furthermore, we are in a vicious circle: the destruction of nature is exacerbating the emergence of such epidemics, resulting in poachers attempting to earn a living, that is, they are further destroying endangered species and getting even closer more to animals.

So we are destroying the environment, and that is destroying us. And only we can stop this.

If we further reduce the animals’ natural habitats, they could become trapped in artificial areas to provoke further epidemics, a group of Guardian scientists protested.

Three-fourths of human diseases are of animal origin,

And if we don’t change our current habits, epidemics that claim significant declines could become even more frequent, they warn. Two years ago, it was noted that bats in Asia could trigger an epidemic that could be dangerous to humans: deforestation and other environmental impacts are bringing them closer to human settlements. Although there is currently no direct relationship between the bat and humans, it is likely that there is pinworm as the coronavirus “messenger” between the two species.

Roger Frutos, a researcher at the University of Montpellier, who had warned years ago about the danger of a bat-borne epidemic, believes that we should change our attitude that we should not fear nature, but we should be aware of the importance of activity human. Its role in the development and spread of zoonotic diseases. Also, it is something we can control.

Scientists have found 3,200 different varieties of coronaviruses in bats. The vast majority of these are harmless to humans. However, two have been discovered in East Asia that are very similar to Sars and Covid-19, warning that there is a high probability of another outbreak in the area. But it is not only there: in many parts of the world, there is a risk of another epidemic.

One of those areas is South America: Due to increasing deforestation, Brazilian scientists have also drawn attention to the fact that the incidence of disease among bats in those areas is almost three times higher than that of people living in the woods. But what is Brazil doing against that? Last year, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was hit by an international attack on deforestation in the Amazon, who recently announced that the army could also be deployed against deforestation and forest fires: in the first three months of 2020, deforestation increased more than 50 percent from the previous year.

At the same time, however, the environment minister fired several coordinators who had been successful at the Environmental Protection Agency (IBAMA) to curb deforestation and illegal land grabbing. Therefore, conservationists also caution that a temporary military presence is not a substitute for a permanent presence of conservation organizations.

Not only bats are dangerous

Brazilian researcher Alessandra Nava said that Lyme disease has spread from guinea pigs to humans. He noted that there is a great danger that viruses will mutate if species that have not lived together until now unite. And although local authorities eradicated the population to prevent disease, the number of individuals in the forests was “kept in order” by jaguars due to the balance of nature, and Lyme disease did not occur there either.

Their findings are in line with the findings of Tierra Smiley Evans, an epidemiologist at the University of California who studied the consequences of deforestation in Myanmar: He concluded that endangered or threatened species are much more likely to carry viruses than animals that are not threaten their natural habitat. so serious danger or they are not hunted.

“The link between environmental stress suffered by animals and human health is clear. I hope that one of the positive aspects of this tragedy is to make us aware that there is a connection between our well-being and the way we treat our forests. This is not only a problem for wildlife or the environment, but also for our health, “he warns.

The scientists would urge a large-scale international collaboration to monitor virus development and educate the local community to recognize and deal with possible outbreaks as soon as possible. While this would come at a significant cost, we would still get away with it as if the outbreak of another pandemic forced the world economy to shut down again.