I wrote a while ago about a groups attempt to to put in place a number of programmes in order to avoid future outbreaks of illnesses such as covid-19.
Illnesses such as covid-19 tend to emerge from rainforests and other similar ecosystems. As such their suggestion was to globally spend $20-30 billion dollars a year on 3 activities.
- Halt deforestation (and replant large recently deforested areas)
- Halt the wildlife trade, particularly bush meat, the main avenue into human population
- Closely watch for emergence of new viruses
As such it is fascinating to see warnings from more scientists along the same lines. A UN summit next month will be told that there is now a clear link between habitat destruction and emergence of new diseases and viruses.
Almost a third of illnesses in the human population of emerge from these places,and it is calculated that perhaps as many as 6 epidemics could hit the world a year if forest destruction continues at the rate it is currently going.
This new report is linked back to the one I talked about above. What is encouraging about this link is that as it is being discussed in the UN it will draw countries attention to it. Furthermore finding $20 to 30 billion from all the countries in the world far is less. It could also be sold to which consumers as a means to halt rainforest destruction and save wildlife species.
Indeed if so right this could potentially be paid for by the the top 50 also wealthiest countries in the world without them really noticing the cost (particularly if pushed now: with these countries reeling from the extraordinary cost of fighting covid-19, 1 billion a year could seem like chicken feed in comparison).
