Studies show that 72 per cent of zoonotic diseases like Covid originate in wildlife, which is why it’s crucial to conserve natural habitats. T he conservation of wildlife in its habitat has assumed greater importance because of Covid-19, as studies indicate that 60 per cent of Emerging Infectious Diseases — such as HIV, Ebola, SARS, Covid-19 — affecting humans are zoonotic. Approximately 72 per cent of these originate in wildlife. Wildlife habitats, which include Protected Areas and other categories of landscapes rich in wilderness, are also important life-supporting systems that play a critical role in ensuring food and water security, climate change resilience, and natural hazard regulation, among several other ecological, economical and cultural services . Read the article on 'The Print '
Debadityo Sinha is an award-winning Indian ecologist and conservationist with a keen interest in studying the impact of law, policy, politics, and culture on conservation. He is the founder and Managing Trustee of 'Vindhyan Ecology & Natural History Foundation', and a member of IUCN Species Survival Commission- Bear Specialist Group. He is associated with Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy as a Senior Resident Fellow and leading the environmental law vertical.