We could become more resilient to future pandemics by protecting nature

The world’s wetlands could generate sustainable, agricultural livelihoods, which in turn contribute to public health through the ability to afford basic needs including nutritious food, medical care and education, writes Izabella Koziell

Wetlands are sometimes described as the 'planet’s kidneys' (Bloomberg)

The Covid-19 pandemic has provided the starkest warning to date that humankind must re-think its relationship with the world at large, from natural ecosystems to both wild and domestic animals.

The crisis is the latest shock to have disrupted business as normal, from consumption patterns and food security to economic resilience. It reminds us that global development remains at the mercy of disease and disaster. But the outbreak also presents an enormous opportunity to reposition nature at the heart of global resilience against these shared existential threats.

With pandemic recovery stimulus packages on the horizon worldwide, the public and private sector should take this chance to invest in nature-based solutions if the world is to better absorb ongoing shocks and prevent new ones in the future.

One of the greatest opportunities to make better use of natural defences is in sustainable food systems, which may help avoid an outbreak of a Covid-19-type virus in the future while also supporting agricultural development. The world’s wetlands are one such landscape where nature could offer potential to generate sustainable, agricultural livelihoods, which in turn contribute to public health through the ability to afford basic needs including nutritious food, medical care and education.

Sometimes described as the planet’s kidneys, wetlands have in some cases become degraded but those that remain intact offer valuable ecosystem services that contribute directly to rural and agricultural livelihoods and wellbeing.

Among the benefits of wetlands are domestic water supply and resources for livestock grazing as well as “regulating” services, which can include the capacity to mitigate floods and drought, protecting smallholder farmers and their harvests against weather extremes.

Moreover, evidence suggests that wetlands may also provide something of a natural buffer against outbreaks of infectious disease. One study found lower levels of avian flu in protected and undisturbed wetland sites accredited by the Ramsar Convention, indicating that preserving these areas may make a difference not only to food production but also to the spread of disease.

Another opportunity to make use of nature-based solutions for a more resilient global food system lies in groundwater, which comprises almost all of the world’s liquid freshwater, and provides 40 per cent of the water used for irrigation. Yet around 1.7bn people live above aquifers that are under stress, putting enormous pressure on farmers when facing droughts and water scarcity.

Scientists are developing ways to gather more data about groundwater supplies to enable national and regional authorities to better monitor reserves, recharge them where necessary and manage them according to need. Judicious management of groundwater in times of plenty will mean greater likelihood of coping with future shortages and the subsequent impact on food production.

Finally, the ongoing management and protection of river flows is vital to the sustainability of agriculture, especially given the growth of hydropower projects, which change the dynamics of traditional water sources.

An initiative known as “WISE-UP” has used science-backed approaches to better integrate built water infrastructure such as dams along the Tana River basin in Kenya with natural infrastructure needed for water, energy and food security as well as biodiversity and climate resilience.

As authorities worldwide turn their attention to recovery efforts and economic support, it is likely this will encompass a slew of new infrastructure projects. But countries with limited resources and planning processes must avoid the risk that stimulus packages damage the environment, adversely impacting the poorest and exacerbating rather than alleviating development challenges.

If we are to learn anything from the coronavirus pandemic, it must be that infrastructure needs to be planned and managed in an integrated way, not only for the primary needs of a population but also for critical ecosystem services and the associated impact on development.

To build sustainability and resilience, governments should be asking what alternatives to traditional infrastructure investments could be supported through economic stimulus packages. Priority should be given to initiatives compatible with national development priorities, those with a large social impact, and those which will mitigate natural disasters.

This means devoting more investment, research and conservation efforts to vital ecosystems like wetlands to match traditional, engineered infrastructure.

Izabella Koziell is director at CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE)