Fostering landscape immunity to protect human health: A science‐based rationale for shifting conservation policy paradigms

Abstract

Anthropogenic land use change is a major driver of zoonotic pathogen spillover from wildlife to humans. According to the land use‐induced spillover model, land use change alters environmental conditions that in turn alter the dynamics between zoonotic pathogens and their wildlife hosts. Thus, in response to the global spread of the SARS‐CoV‐2 virus (the agent of COVID‐19 disease), there have been renewed calls for landscape conservation as a disease preventive measure, including by the G7 Ministers responsible for Climate and the Environment. Landscape immunity, as a new construct, points to four paradigm shifts the world must favor to effectively mitigate pandemic risks. We provide a landscape immunity primer for policy makers and make the case for “world views” that place Homo sapiens within ecological systems, regard human health as an ecological service, prioritize investments in prevention, and apply ecological restoration to human health goals. Crisis is a conversation starter for reimagining and recommitting ourselves to what is most vital and generative. We urge world leaders to make the move to a nature‐positive world.

SARS-CoV-2 has not emerged in roe, red or fallow deer in Germany or Austria during the COVID 19 pandemic

“…In North America, it appears important to address behaviours related to feeding of deer in urban settings and revisiting feeding practices in deer management and hunting. Maintaining natural barriers will help prevent future spillovers and spillback of SARS-CoV-2 between deer and human populations (14). The consequences of inaction could be further spillback to humans of viral variants evolving in novel hosts as has occurred in Danish and Dutch mink farms during the pandemic (4,5).…”

Landscape Composition Affects Elements of Metacommunity Structure for Culicidae Across South-Eastern Illinois

“…There is a growing recognition for the need to anticipate, prepare for, and prevent emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) through action programs and initiatives such as those based on One Health approaches ( 56 – 58 ). The main thrust is to use a holistic method to consider the links among human, plant, animal health and the environment, with a focus on understanding how anthropogenic pressures on the environment (e.g., land use change or urbanization) shape the threat of EIDs.…”

2 | 2 | 2022 Arboreal Ecocriticism

“…The Healing Mathematics of Life in a Gesture: Jean Giono's The Man Who Planted Trees 287 In general terms, three potentially inter-related linkages between land use and wildlife disease dynamics are clear: (1) ecological patterns across the landscape determine the distribution and abundance of biota, including pathogens and their hosts; (2) environmental stress affects wildlife susceptibility to pathogen infection, as well as the likelihood of wildlife shedding pathogens in a manner that increases exposure of other animals (including humans); and (3) human-altered landscapes bring wildlife into closer proximity to domestic animals and humans, thus increasing the likelihood that shed pathogens will spill over into populations of other species (ultimately, humans) where they may spread further. (Reaser et al 2022; emphasis in the original)…”