We have long delayed the implementation of eco-friendly practices.
KARACHI: While there has been much debate about the fact that the pandemic has given nature the opportunity to heal itself from man-made destruction, a report presented by the World Economic Forum suggests a different reality altogether. According to the report, nature remains in a continuous state of threat even during the pandemic.
Since the majority of the world’s governments are busy dealing with the pandemic, many are using this opportunity to fully carry out destructive acts such as land-grabbing, illegal mining, and deforestation. In most Asiatic countries, individuals have returned to rural areas after losing their jobs in the cities. This has increased the pressure on natural resources as unemployed individuals are now resorting to hunting, fishing and logging as a means of supporting their livelihoods. Furthermore, since tourism has come to a sudden halt, authorities around the world are hardly focusing on protecting, restoring or maintaining their natural heritage sites let alone conserving natural resources.
We must not forget, however, that pandemics and natural disasters are usually the result of some sort of disruption occurring in the biodiversity and the environment of the earth. Hence, even during a pandemic, protecting nature must remain a primary concern of governments across the world. It is essential to incorporate environmentally friendly practices apart from rebuilding economies during and after the pandemic, or else the world is likely to experience many similar disasters and outbreaks in the future.
We have long delayed the implementation of eco-friendly practices. World leaders and international communities must come together in order to manage climate change and protect biodiversity. This is the only way to reduce the threats of future outbreaks and prevent the extinction of the human race.
Nayab Iqbal
Published in The Express Tribune, June 2nd, 2020.
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