A CONVERSE ASSOCIATION: HOW BIODIVERSITY AND WILDLIFE CONNECTED WITH COVID-19

Dr. Irin Hossain*, Dr. M. M. Aktaruzzaman, Professor Dr. Manzurul Haque Khan and
Dr. Ashekur Rahman Mullick

ABSTRACT

The diversity of life on Earth is indispensable to the healthy functioning of ecosystems. Habitat loss and overexploitation, driven by our express population growth, are the primary causes of biodiversity loss. COVID-19 has the potential to trigger enormous effects on biodiversity and conservation outcomes. This virus emerged due to wildlife exploitation, and the risk of new diseases increases with environmental degradation. Neither the proximate source nor a possible intermediate animal host of COVID-19 has been confirmed at this stage. As human activities continue to disturb ecosystems worldwide, we are likely to see more pathogens crossing from wildlife to humans in the future. The crisis provides us with a reset button on our affiliation with nature. International collaboration is paramount for the health of our nature, our economies, and our people. At this point, protected areas appear to be safe and, in many places, biodiversity is benefitting from reduced human activities. This may not be true everywhere, especially where enforcement has weakened but threats have not. The loss of conservation revenue caused by the COVID-19 pandemic does pose a major threat to conservation and anti-poaching activities long-term. We can pursue the opportunity to re-imagine and alter our relationship with nature while promoting community and global health. Linkages between biodiversity and human health present a broad range of opportunities for jointly protecting health and biodiversity, wildlife and for advancing human wellbeing.

Keywords: Biodiversity, Wildlife, COVID -19.