Biodiversity conservation post COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has placed nature and health at the forefront of the agendas of governments and businesses. The pandemic has forced us to prioritize the health of our planet and all its inhabitants. The agenda has shifted, and therefore, in 2021, tangible solutions are expected to be sought for both economic recovery and the fight against climate change, the great challenge of our time. The COVID-19 pandemic has produced significant social and economic impacts on a regional and global scale. The direct consequences of the mobility restrictions implemented by governments in the region are well known, but the key relationships between natural resources and the factors that triggered the pandemic, the spread of infections, and the impacts of the virus itself have not been explored in greater detail. The relationship between natural resources and the COVID-19 pandemic is multifaceted. On the one hand, they are essential for controlling the crisis (food, drinking water, biodiversity, and electricity), and on the other hand, they are impacted by its consequences (use of fuels, minerals, etc.). Quarantine measures have led to a temporary and sustained decrease in fuel use and, consequently, in associated emissions and pollution, as well as in the exploitation of resources themselves. COVID-19 is a zoonotic disease (transmitted from animals to humans) but has spread very easily from human to human due to the high levels of overcrowding and connectivity in our social structure. In all studies exploring the causes of the spread of zoonotic diseases, land-use change is the most significant factor. The primary factors are: Evidence suggests that the conservation of biodiversity and its ecosystem services is necessary to protect human health, both directly and indirectly.