Enrique Middot; Sarah
The Seychel Islands consisting of 115 green rocky islands on the Indian Ocean have recently announced that it will not be used for commercial purposes for a 30%glittering emerald -like sea -like sea in the 2019 Coronary Virus epidemic.
Protecting about 410,000 square kilometers of sea areas will benefit wild animals and plants in the coast and water, including 100,000 giant turtles and the only primitive coral reefs in the world.In addition to helping those species, the Seychel Islands also set up a new marine protected area through an innovative debt exchange agreement to promote the health, prosperity and well -being of the Seychelles.The country has a population of less than 100,000, but it receives more than 350,000 tourists each year.
Seychelles is currently being blocked to prevent further spread of the virus, and only a few tourists who are trapped in the epidemic are still on the island.Although Seychelles is responding to public health emergency, President Danny Faure decided to continue to promote the above -mentioned conservation work.This effectively reminds people that nature's importance to human body, mind and economic well -being, is not just in Seychelles.
The rapid and devastating spread of crown diseases in the world will last for many years.Given that the epidemic is still spreading, the priority is to support people who are directly affected by the virus and the sufferings brought by it.
However, this epidemic also puts forward unprecedented and indisputable evidence, proving that our destiny is closely related to the health of nature.Today, our relationship with nature is broken.We cut the forests, excessive grazing in the grassland, built ports and roads, quickly expand our city, and destroy countless nature habitats.At the same time, we are conducting international wildlife trade, common and endangered species, as if they are a product without life.
All these factors have led to more frequent and closer contact with those viruses that can infect humans from animals, including coronary virus in 2019, from the illness of love to Ibala and other dozens of deadly and damaged human health.Similarly, we destroy the marine ecosystem and also lead to a large number of diseases.These pathogens may cause potential fatal diseases such as cholera.
The good news is that there is a long -viewed political leader and the United Nations. It has been formulating a action plan with nature as the core, which may help prevent the next epidemic from outbreak.These strategies include the protection of ecosystems and wastes that are not yet affected by human activities, cracking down on wild animals and plant trade (including the risk of educating the public about edible wild animals and plants), as well as the important land and marine areas that restore and protect.
The world is protecting 7%of the ocean and 15%of land, but for human health and prosperity, we must do more.In fact, we must return half of the earth to the world to return to nature, and to use the other half responsible.Our first step should be to protect at least 30%of the earth by 2030.
Both nature and humans will benefit from it.Studies have shown that a large number of animals and plants, insects and microorganisms live in complex and mature ecosystems can limit diseases to humans from animals.
In addition, the role of nature is not just a safe network to prevent diseases.It also protects us from the destructive power of extreme weather, protects us from the pollution of our own manufacturing, and provides us with opportunities for food, medicine and leisure and entertainment.
The income and food of the Seychelles depends on the ocean and land.Fisheries hire 17%of the country's labor and provide the people with low cost and sustainable protein.The tourism industry that focuses on the coastline of Seychelles and the natural beauty of underwater and underwater hires about 25%of the population.
Protecting 30%of the waters of Seychelles will terminate harmful activities within the area, while strengthening the sustainability of the surrounding fishing industry.In addition, maintaining the country's primitive natural scenery, including the ocean, mangroves, seaweed beds, and saline -alkali beaches, it can ensure that it will still be a natural paradise in the future and attract responsible tourists to visit.
When the most serious period of the epidemic passed, the world began to work hard to restore the people, society, and economy, and we must not ignore the necessity of guanai nature and the necessity of letting nature take care of us.A healthy environment is our best antiviral drug, which better protects it, helps us rebound from this round of epidemic, and prevent the next round of epidemic.
Many countries have demonstrated how to establish a stronger bond between nature, economy and health.The recent marine protection plan of Seychelles has brought us hope.If every country, no matter how small, can do its best, the earth can become more secure and prosperous like nature promised.
Author Enric Sala is an explorer of the National Geographical Society in the National Geography Society
English Title: Nature is Our Best Antiviral
Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2020
