APRIL 30 — Assigning responsibility for the coronavirus pandemic is a tricky business. With over 200,000 global deaths by the end of April 2020, we are collectively despairing. Much finger-pointing (and conspiracy theorising) has taken place, with all of us searching for someone or something to...
Thursday, 30 Apr 2020 01:19 PM MYT
In his now viral 2015 TED talk, Bill Gates says, “if anything kills over 10 million people in the next decade, it is going to be a highly infectious virus, not a war.” We now know this prediction is not far-fetched — and epidemiologists have been warning of a major event like this for years. Experts point to deforestation as one of the key risk factors for emerging infectious diseases, along with the wildlife trade and factory farming. There seems to be agreement that these diseases stem from humankind's appalling handling of the natural world, treating flora and fauna as a convenient way to fill our wallets or fill our bellies, at whatever environmental cost.
Tropical forests are leading the way in losses, with record breaking levels of clearing happening nearly every year in recent history. Since the year 2000, Borneo has lost at least six million hectares of forest, much of it converted to oil palm plantations. Industrial agriculture, megadams, mining and logging are all industries alive and well in Borneo. These are also industries that force animals out of their habitats and push them into areas with animals that have no immunity — including humans.
If we are serious about planetary health then more pressure needs to be put on Malaysia and Indonesia to protect their tropical rainforests. We already knew this from a climate survival perspective, as Borneo’s forests are vital in regulating global temperatures.
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