The outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 in Wuhan, China in December 2019 and its spread to over 200 countries worldwide halted the whole world. Many human activities as well as the economic and health care systems were affected. Implementation of Lock-downs, quarantines, and border closures in the wake of the pandemic has resulted in reduced air pollution through decreased travel.
Pictures of smog-free skies and videos of rhinos and wild buffaloes running across roads and comparatively cleaner rivers could easily lead you to believe that nature thrived during the coronavirus pandemic. Lockdown was good news for certain species. And that may not be further from the case for many many wild animals.
WILDLIFE:
Coronavirus lockdowns have caused concern in many parts of the developing world over increased illegal hunting that is driven by food shortages and a reduction in law enforcement in some wildlife protected areas. Meanwhile, border closures and travel bans slowed some illegal high-value species trade.
Nepal, where the virus has destroyed substantial income from migrants and tourists, experienced more forest-related crimes in the first month of the lockdown, including poaching and illegal logging, than in the previous 11 months, according to a government analysis and the World Wildlife Fund. For many migrants who returned to the villages after job losses, forests were the most convenient source of sustenance.
In Sagarmatha National Park too there were dead animals in wire traps set up by poachers but the authorities there didn’t know until a normal citizen noticed when she went to the jungle to collect fodder. It really raises questions for the 95staffs allocated there for the Protection of NP. Those poachers then trade the supply of animals via the walking route all the way to China.
Although the significant negative consequences of living through the COVID-19 pandemic are apparent – psychological stress, panic, serious global economic losses, worried health care systems, and general social disruption – the current pandemic may also have some indirect positive impacts. Virus outbreaks can have significant negative effects on human health, but changes in our lifestyle due to outbreak responses may serve as a reminder of potential positive environmental, human, animal, and ecosystem changes. We rely on nature for our health, jobs & so much more.
Zoonotic Diseases Vs COVID-19:
75 % of all new infectious diseases emerged from the wildlife. And science is not yet certain, the origin of COVID-19 is thought to be linked with human-wildlife transmission.
When more and more humans encroach and diminish existing natural habitats, and while the urbanization cycle is bringing us ever closer to biodiversity, we are growing our risk for access to disease-causing pathogens. If we reconsider our partnership with nature, we might replicate zoonotic pandemics, again and again.
Social distancing and quarantines have contributed to significant reductions in travel as many workers are switching to working from home. The ongoing quarantines and travel restrictions imposed by many countries have resulted in decreased use of and demand for oil and its products, which have resulted in reduced emissions of smoke and waste due to oil use.
Such positive effects on the environment are possibly only temporary but may serve as an example of how improvements in our way of life can have prompt positive effects on the environment and illustrate the effectiveness of travel-reducing steps such as online meetings or teleconferences. Therefore, considering that COVID-19 is predominantly a global catastrophe, the pandemic can encourage potential behavioral changes with positive environmental impacts.
Corona pandemic has led to a plastic waste pandemic:
During COVID-19, single-use plastics like surgical masks, gloves, and plastic cups were vital in supporting the community. There is no doubt that single-use plastic has become a lifesaver in combating COVID-19, particularly for frontline health workers. Still, a big global proble
m is plastics and their processing, though. However, plastics and its disposal is a major global issue.
Soaring
home deliveries of food and use of the face mask is another thing to consider. The
average face mask demand in China soared to 116 million in February which is 12
times higher than the previous month. As a result of the increasing use of
disposable face masks, a large number of masks have been discarded in the
natural world, contributing to the global plastic waste burden. Governments
need to ensure proper support for waste management schemes to cope with
existing and potential plastic waste.
Pollution
The decline in pollution was mainly due to decreased production, which adds carbon emissions to transport on a comparable scale. Combined production process, mining, and building pollution account for 18.4 % of total anthropogenic emissions. The 2008-09 financial crisis resulted in an average pollution decline of 1.3 %. But it quickly bounced back by 2010 as the economy recovered, leading to an all-time high. (Source: C2ES)
This is not the first time an outbreak has made its mark on CO2 levels in the atmosphere. History shows disease transmission has been associated with lower pollution-even long before the industrial era.
The lockdown & related steps resulted in a rapid downturn in economic activity and a drop in road transport in many cities. We have witnessed and felt a reduction in air pollution. What we know for sure is that air pollution already kills 7 million people prematurely worldwide. And we have to tackle the causes of air pollution, no matter what. This is a nature’s “Great Reset” and the governments have a better opportunity to make better decisions as they rebuild their economies.
Climate change is an accumulated problem. It is not similar as other pollution. It is not like that where someone is putting trash in the river and then they stop putting it and the river is cleaned. It depends on all the emissions we released in the past.
Apparently, the drastic acts taken in the pandemic times can’t be directly copy pasted in non-pandemic times to achieve the positive results. But, we have lessons that can be learned, and that inspiration can be gained from the fact that swift positive feedback is seen when action is taken.
Our nature is susceptible to biodiversity and destruction of
habitat, global flooding and industrial waste. Negligence to act on right time
is humanity's failure. Humankind now relies on action for a safe and
sustainable future. This pandemic is terrible. And it’s not the best way to
reduce CO2. But, what this event does show is that when humankind is unified behind
a mutual mission, dramatic changes will happen on short period.
