Some forest restoration linked to short-term rise in zoonotic diseases

Some forest restoration linked to short-term rise in zoonotic diseases

Deforestation and land use change can accelerate the spread of zoonotic diseases — infectious illnesses that can spread from animals to humans — including malaria and COVID-19. While habitat restoration is crucial for addressing biodiversity loss and climate change, new research suggests counterintuitively that it can also temporarily increase the risk of certain zoonotic diseases in some areas. Human encroachment into wild spaces for developmen…