Ecosystem restoration is integral to humanity's recovery from COVID-19

Abstract

COVID-19 has devastated global communities and economies. The pandemic has exposed socioeconomic disparities and weaknesses in health systems worldwide. Long-term health effects and economic recovery are major concerns. Ecosystem restoration-ie, the repair of ecosystems that have been degraded-relates directly to tackling the health and socioeconomic burdens of COVID-19, because stable and resilient ecosystems are fundamental determinants of health and socioeconomic stability. Here, we use COVID-19 as a case study, showing how ecosystem restoration can reduce the risk of infection and adverse sequelae and have an integral role in humanity's recovery from COVID-19. The next decade will be crucial for humanity's recovery from COVID-19 and for ecosystem repair. Indeed, in the absence of effective, large-scale restoration, 95% of the Earth's land could be degraded by 2050. The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-30) declaration reflects the growing urgency and scale at which we should repair ecosystems. Importantly, ecosystem restoration could also help to combat the health and socioeconomic issues that are associated with COVID-19, yet it is poorly integrated into current responses to the disease. Ecosystem restoration can be a core public health intervention and assist in COVID-19 recovery if it is closely integrated with socioeconomic, health, and environmental policies.

Figure 1

Direct and indirect effects of COVID-19 on human health SARS-CoV-2 infection can directly cause inflammation and respiratory failure, and death in severe cases (ie, direct effects). Many cases of secondary infection have been recorded (level 1 indirect effects; eg, bacterial pneumonia, long COVID, and post-intensive care syndrome). Other indirect effects of COVID-19 include the exacerbation of mental health conditions attributed to social isolation, loss of kin and finances, and unequal access to health-promoting environments (level 2 indirect effects).

Figure 2

Examples of the benefits of ecosystem restoration for human health (A) Restoring biodiverse environments might promote immune regulation through enhanced exposure to diverse microbiota. (B) Restoring nature can contribute to reducing the risk of zoonotic spillover via creating a habitat for stable populations of disease vectors. (C) Active engagement in ecosystem restoration can be implemented as a restoration-based health intervention—ie, reciprocal restoration—with important psychosocial and employment co-benefits.