Contributed by Katie Johnson, Community engagement coordinator with Lummi Island Heritage Trust

Aiston Preserve on Lummi Island, photo by Bert Sagara

When we experience a collective tragedy, people often look for a place of blame. We want someone or something to point the finger at, thinking this will make the anxiety and anger fade away. Yet when we begin to trace back the origins of this most recent pandemic, the results might surprise you: there's not a single person or critter to condemn. Humanity brought this on by putting itself before nature. When we fail to recognize the tremendous value of the environment, Mother Nature, and our planet - we must live (or die) with the consequences.

“The more we degrade and clear forest habitats, the more likely it is that we’re going to find ourselves in these situations where epidemics of infectious diseases occur.””

For the past 60 years more and more harmful pathogens and viruses have spread in places they have never existed before. The rise in outbreaks of diseases like Ebola, HIV, and Zika are linked to animal spread transmission in areas where deforestation happens like West Africa, Latin and South America. The rise of Malaria has long been linked to the destruction of the rainforest.

According to Andy MacDonald, disease ecologist, “It’s pretty well established that deforestation can be a strong driver of infectious disease transmission…. The more we degrade and clear forest habitats, the more likely it is that we’re going to find ourselves in these situations where epidemics of infectious diseases occur.” The relationship between vector borne disease and deforestation is complex, yet the link is clear. Deforestation, habitat destruction, and urban sprawl have significant impacts on wildlife. This causes more and more human-to-animal interaction and makes the spread of zoonotic diseases easier. While this is essentially bad news, there is a positive solution and it starts with saving land. Keeping habitats intact, preserving ecosystems, respecting wildlife in wild places - all lead to a safer and healthier planet.

Protecting land is more important now, than ever before.

The conservation of natural, wild space supports our collective future resilience against the risk of infectious disease.

“Halting the destruction of natural areas, stepping up efforts to end wildlife trafficking, and creating more parks and open space near communities are three actions that policymakers can take to address the nature crisis and, in doing so, protect the well-being and health of our communities, ” says Nicole Gentile, director of Public Lands at the Center for American Progress. By keeping ecosystems intact, we support the health and vitality of the land.

The Heritage Trust helps to ensure over 1,000 acres of open space, healthy forests, and wildlife habitat can flourish as a thriving ecosystem here on Lummi Island. Our promise is to protect this land in perpetuity, forever preserving the nature of Lummi Island. We steward this land so that everyone on Lummi Island has an opportunity for fresh air and clean drinking water, beautiful vistas and deep connections with nature. We uphold the value of the land, not just today, but for generations to come.

Enjoy more about this at LIHT.org