The study suggests that the “hot spots” will be places where horseshoe bats live and have factors that make the risk of corona virus spread to humans and outbreaks into epidemics. This study does not provide additional information about the SARS-CoV-2 virus, but rather points to locations where similar corona viruses may appear in humans in the future. The study results show that southern China is a very high-risk place, and urges us to reduce risk factors, such as reducing deforestation, not just deal with the virus when it has become an epidemic. . Perfect combination” Research by the Intergovernmental Policy-Science Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), a German NGO, shows the number of outbreaks caused by zoonotic diseases object is on the rise. Accordingly, it is humans who are the cause of this increase, through deforestation and destruction of natural ecosystems. At least a third of disease outbreaks since 1960, including Ebola, have been linked to changes in human land use, the report said. Deforestation is one of the many causes of the increasing number of zoonotic diseases being transmitted to humans. Photo: Greenpeace. As humans encroach on natural forest land, the risk of humans coming into contact with wild animals, as well as the pathogens they carry, increases. Newly published research reinforces this hypothesis, as it shows that the risk of humans coming into contact with wildlife increases if the area of ​​primary forest is reduced by 25%. In addition, the destruction of natural habitats also causes disease-carrying species, such as bats and rodents, to become more numerous. Scientists also warn that the occupation of forest land is just one of many causes of zoonotic diseases spreading to humans. High population density, as well as large-scale livestock production, are two other factors that increase the risk. That’s because pets can catch diseases from wild animals or become vectors of disease to humans. The risks to industrial farms are even greater, where large numbers of livestock live in small spaces, and these animals are often less resistant. Outbreak “hot spots” Paolo D’Odorico, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley and co-author of the study, said that most research on corona viruses currently focuses on human-to-human transmission, not on the possibility of elimination. This virus is transferred from animals to humans. Therefore, he and his colleagues collected data on forest land occupation, livestock density, population density and a number of other factors and compared it with the habitat of horseshoe bats in Asia and Africa. Europe. Horseshoe bats are considered to be carriers of a large number of corona viruses, including a species closely related to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The “hot spots” of potential coronavirus outbreaks are shown in dark red. Photo: Natural Food. The results of the study are represented by a map, in which dark red dots represent areas with a high risk of corona virus spreading to people. In contrast, the blue dots indicate places where there are relatively few conditions for disease outbreaks. Professor David Hayma, another co-author of the study, said that the main concern is that large areas of southern China are still at high risk for a new disease from the corona virus to emerge. In addition, the scientists also pointed out that some areas, including Shanghai, Japan and the Philippines, are at risk of becoming “hot spots” if deforestation continues. “We need surveillance in these areas to prevent the emergence of new diseases,” Hayman said. How to prevent a new outbreak? Scientists estimate that as many as 1.7 million virus species have not been detected in mammals and birds, and half of them have the potential to spread to humans. Professor Andrew Dobson of Princeton University, thinks that the Covid-19 epidemic is a wake-up call for us. “The most important thing is to figure out what we can do to reduce the likelihood of similar events happening,” said Dobson, arguing that we should start from stopping deforestation. Horseshoe bats are considered to carry many pathogens and are capable of spreading to humans. Photo: Wall Street Journal. Professor Dobson said that people living in “hot spots”, such as in southern China, should “put pressure on politicians” to introduce appropriate policies and mechanisms to protect forests. The cost of protecting forests will be much lower than the price we pay each time a pandemic breaks out, IPBES research shows. Besides, experts also warn that the livestock industry should take appropriate measures to prevent livestock from being infected. At the same time, they also call for a greater focus on the earth’s ecosystems. “We knew how to launch rockets into space decades ago. But understanding how diseases spread from animals to humans is a much more difficult problem,” Professor Dobson commented.

Regular testing on mink farms is recommended to rule out the risk of transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus to humans. Photo: AFP/VNA After more than a year of the COVID-19 outbreak, people are well aware of the risks of human-animal contact, especially in cases related to deforestation and wildlife trade. high risk. The report builds on the study “Behind the Ivory Ban” conducted by the International Organization for Conservation of Nature and the Global Initiative Reporting Organization in 2020 to gain insight into attitudes and behaviors. public attitudes towards COVID-19 and future pandemics. More than a year after the COVID-19 outbreak, survey results show that people are well aware of close human-animal contact, often linked to deforestation and the endangered wildlife trade. high risk, potential health risks, can cause serious disease outbreaks. In which, 46% of the participants said that transmission of diseases from animals to humans is the root cause that could cause a future pandemic. A recent investigation by the World Health Organization (WHO) also indicated that wild animals are likely to be the source of infection of the COVID-19 pandemic. A majority of those surveyed believe that preventing future pandemics should start with addressing the root causes, including high-risk wildlife trade and deforestation. In all five countries, people strongly support government efforts to close high-risk wildlife markets that sell wild-caught animals (85%) and to end wildlife trafficking. deforestation (88%). In which, in Vietnam, the support rate for these two issues is 94% and 95% respectively. In addition, 85% of respondents in all 5 countries support or strongly support the “One Health” approach to dealing with the pandemic. Particularly in Vietnam, the agreement rate is 93% and is the second country with the highest consensus rate. “One Health” is an approach in which action programs, policies and legislation from various sectors work together towards the goal of better health for people, animals and plants, in particular. in the context of the increasing spread of diseases between animals and humans and the increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistance. More specifically, among survey participants in Vietnam, 39% of respondents said they have consumed less wildlife or have stopped consuming wildlife because of COVID-19. In Thailand, this rate nearly doubles from 21% in 2020 to 41% in 2021. While in China, the figure is 28% in 2021. Still, there are 9% of participants. The survey intends to purchase wildlife products in the future in all five countries. The COVID-19 pandemic has turned the lives of human society upside down and forced people to think more deeply about the relationship between humans and nature. The best way to prevent future pandemics is to minimize activities that destroy the natural environment such as deforestation, trade and consumption of unsustainable, high-risk wildlife, rather than passively. respond to disease outbreaks after they emerge. “Preventing a pandemic, it is estimated, will be 100 times less expensive than responding to a pandemic when it breaks out. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that investing in the health of the planet and nature is the only way to avoid paying a hefty economic and social cost,” said Marco Lambertini, Director General of the International Organization. on the International Conservation of Nature. Ms. Nguyen Dao Ngoc Van, Program Manager against illegal wildlife trade of the International Organization for Conservation of Nature in Vietnam commented: “In July 2020, the Prime Minister issued an Directive Decree No. 29/CT-TTg on some urgent solutions for wildlife management. We expect the Government to continue to closely guide the implementation, promptly reward ministries, branches and localities for good performance and strictly handle localities that have not performed well so that the Directive can come into effect. living”. The results of the Report are an important basis for Vietnam and other countries in the region to consider decisions on closing wildlife markets and closing forests to proactively prevent and control the COVID-19 pandemic. as well as possible future outbreaks of wildlife-related diseases to humans. The International Organization for Conservation of Nature calls on policymakers to put in place the interventions needed to address the key drivers of zoonotic disease outbreaks in their pandemic control plans. Translate. For example, closing forests and closing high-risk wildlife markets will help restore animal populations and maintain biodiversity at the national and global levels. Thereby, epidemics can be adjusted naturally, as well as helping to ensure the sustainable use of natural resources.

A new species of pumpkin toad has been discovered in Brazil. Researchers have uncovered a new species of pumpkin toad that is orange in color, fluorescence glow in the dark and is as small as 1 cm in size in Brazil’s Atlantic forest. This amphibian, Brachycephalus rotenbergae, is a relative of at least 36 species of pumpkin toad, named after the pumpkin popular for Halloween. Like the venom-releasing frog, the pumpkin toad’s vibrant color signals predators that their skin carries a toxin that can be lethal. This new species of pumpkin toad was recently described in the journal Plos One . They were found in extensive research efforts across Brazil to find new pumpkin toads. The identification of the organisms is crucial to the country’s biodiversity conservation, especially in areas with as many species as the Atlantic forest, where 93% of its area is lost, experts say. Initial cover due to deforestation and agricultural development. A small pumpkin toad crawls past the bright orange mushroom, which is a common feature of their habitat. Brazil has the highest number of amphibian species in the world, at least one thousand species. But amphibians worldwide are among the most vulnerable groups of vertebrates, especially when it comes to climate change. Lead researcher Professor Ivan Sergio Nunes Silva, scientist at São Paulo State University, said: “As a scientist, the happiest moment is when you see something new and you are the only one. best know. But unfortunately, today, we are losing undetermined species faster than the rate at which new species are described. Interesting story about new toads Images of the newly discovered pumpkin toad. Photo: Plos One. Professor Nunes and his team found the pumpkin toad B. rotenbergae through 76 field surveys between 2018 and 2019 in the Mantiqueira Mountains 2,132 meters above sea level. They spent hours wandering the cliffs and streams flowing through the forest. Most pumpkin toad species are quite similar. They are particularly tiny frogs, among the smallest in the world with a length of just over a centimeter and often have bright, tangerine skin that secretes a powerful nerve agent. Back in the lab, the team took DNA samples from 71 toads and compared them with samples of known pumpkin toads. They also analyze their physical characteristics, bone structure, behavior and record their mating calls to determine that this is a new species. The new pumpkin toad, for example, is smaller than other known toads, with a smaller snout. Other unusual features include black, matte patterns on the skin and a preference for living at higher altitudes in the Atlantic forest. The creatures cannot hear the sound of their calls because their ears are not yet developed, Nunes said. “Their communication is basically visual, because these toads can communicate by opening their mouths,” he added. In particular, it is a mystery that B. rotenbergae has bone fragments on its skull and back that fluoresce and can glow through the skin under ultraviolet light, a wavelength that they can see, But humans are not. Only two other pumpkin toad species are known to emit fluorescence, Nunes added. He doesn’t know what fluorescent bones are used for, but they might play a role in communication. This species has patches of bones on its skull and back that glow green through the skin under UV rays. Photo: Plos One. There is much more work to be done Professor Michel Varajao Garey, of the Latin American Institute of Natural Sciences and Life (ILACVN), said Professor Nunes and colleagues’ approach is comprehensive. Such a thorough approach could “reveal unknown diversity” and possibly reclassify some mislabeled species. In fact, up until this study, the authors say, B. rotenbergae was misclassified as B. ephippium because it looked so similar. The number of new species is unknown, but Nunes and his colleagues hope to conduct more surveys to find out where it lives, as well as look for more pumpkin toad species. Most of the rest of the Atlantic forest are protected in nature reserves, but these areas are still threatened by deforestation, climate change, and land use change. Although deforestation rates are declining in Brazil, more than 28,000 acres of forest land were cleared in 2018. Professor Nunes hopes the discovery will inspire governments and organizations to better take care of their resources, including closely monitoring endangered species. “Nature is only stable if it’s complex enough,” says Professor Nunes. This shows that biodiversity is paramount for a country as large as Brazil. “

This shows that Mr. Guterres recognized the need and importance of input and feedback from international youth leaders in addressing 17 sustainable development goals related to the plan. Climate action. The common point of most of these goals is environmental sustainability and climate change resistance. Not only in the future, our children will “inherit” the Earth, but at this very moment, they are exercising inheritance rights in urgent ways and need to solve current problems immediately. ie. We can name a few members of the United Nations Youth Advisory Council as well as other youth activists from Asia and Africa, who may not be popular but remain silent. make an impact in their community. One of the new members is Archana Soreng of the indigenous Khadian tribe from the Sundergarh district in Odisha, India. Soreng is a research officer at Vasundhara Odisha and a climate leader. In her own opinion, she feels that “in order to build a better world after the Covid pandemic, it is important for indigenous communities to be aware of their joint role in protecting their lips. School, the environment itself will have a direct and long-term impact on their lives ”. Archana Soreng is a research officer at Vasundhara Odisha and a climate leader Speaker and climate activist, Vanessa Nakate has studied and educated herself for many years around environmental and political issues. Before crops failed, record heatwaves, increased deforestation and recently a grasshopper epidemic in East Africa, where she lives, Nakate felt that she could not stand and watch without speaking out for herself. Joining the Fridays for Future and Uganda Rise Up strikes at school, Nakate is at the forefront of the international youth movement working for the climate. Arshak Makichyan is an enthusiastic and outspoken Armenian Russian climate activist. He spoke enthusiastically about activities for the climate, frankly pointing to serious issues such as widespread wildfires, famine, rising sea levels, and rising temperatures that will affect today’s children. and tomorrow. He is an important representative of Russian youth in expressing anger and fears about climate change. Arshak Makichyan is a Russian-Armenian climate activist Ou Hongyi is an 18 year old climatologist located in Guilin, China. Concerned about pollution, emissions, flooding, and other climate-related emergencies in China, Hongyi even went against her parents’ desire to join air advocates. another poster in the world. She has been greatly influenced by Al Gore’s 2006 film An Inconvenient Truth and since watching it at the age of 16, she has repeatedly demonstrated to everyone the state of climate emergency. Fatou Lamin Jeng is a leader and youth educator on climate and gender issues. As a member of Clean Earth Gambia and a speaker at UNFPA Youth Day International in the summer of 2020, Jeng brought the dialogue on this issue to the fore. Kisha Erah Muanã is an avid climate leader in the Philippines, where numerous issues are emerging such as global warming, rising sea levels, soil erosion, water pollution, poverty. , gang activity and violence. In addition, deforestation, super typhoons and earthquakes have been and are having a huge impact on the Philippines. As the youth spokesperson for the Cebu region, Muanã said: “I feel very happy to represent the country at a major event to voice my views on emergencies towards emergencies. with the climate. All these young leaders and many more have given us inspiration to take quick action against climate change to protect the future of this planet. and of all peoples, races, species, and nations. We will be wiser if we rely on the advice of indigenous people, those who are marginalized, who know best of the consequences of irresponsibility. As Archana Soreng observed: “Our ancestors protected forests and nature through the ages with their traditional knowledge and practices. Now, we must become the leaders in combating the climate crisis ”.

After Khanh Hoa Newspaper published an article “Sprawling Hon Rong” on March 10, the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee sent a written request to handle deforestation, illegal leveling and construction at Hon Rong Mountain. Implementing the direction of the Provincial Party Committee, Provincial People’s Committee, City People’s Committee. Cam Ranh has asked localities and related departments to review the forest land deforestation, resolutely handle illegal construction works. Recently, City People’s Committee. Cam Ranh reported to the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial People’s Committee the results of implementation after the inspection conclusion of the management and use of land in Hon Rong mountain area. Actively handle According to the report, in the Hon Rong mountain area in Cam Loc ward, up to now, the City People’s Committee has issued 11 decisions to handle 13 land plots of cases. In which, there are 5 cases built on production forest land, 6 cases built on land for perennial trees. Construction works on Hon Rong mountain by Mr. Le Tung. For cases of using land for wrong purposes, the People’s Committee of Cam Loc ward issued 32 notices on self-recovery of land use. Up to now, the households have basically planted trees on their violated area according to the right land use purpose. Over the past time, the ward People’s Committee has coordinated with the Cam Ranh Land Registration Office Branch to inspect and make a record to record the current status of the cases of land change registration. In cases where the planting of trees to ensure the density is carried out, the application shall be continued at the request of the land user according to regulations. Next time, for households that have not planted trees on land, the ward People’s Committee will continue to inform and urge them to self-recover their land use in accordance with the right purpose. If the households still do not comply, the ward People’s Committee will report to the City People’s Committee for handling. In the cases of illegal construction, the People’s Committee of Cam Loc Ward worked with 4 land users. In these cases, they committed to self-plant replanting trees and not building works or exploiting minerals on their own land areas. In addition, there are 2 cases in which the works were dismantled without the exploitation of minerals. In Cam Phu ward, City People’s Committee. Cam Ranh discovered 4 cases of violations on production forest land. Currently, 3 cases have voluntarily dismantled completely construction works. In the other case, trees have been planted to cover the entire area, dismantled works on the land, there is only one temporary camp left to look after crops and store tools and materials for production. In this case, there is an application for an area of ​​a concrete road to serve the transportation of trees, materials, fertilizers, and crop care. The People’s Committee of Cam Phu ward asked not to coerce because in this case, the penalty was paid and the consequences were resolved, no assignment of lots was assigned. On the other hand, when disassembly will cause erosion, affecting the surrounding environment. Coercive before frequent recidivism According to the leaders of the City People’s Committee. Cam Ranh, in the process of checking and checking the wrongdoings in the Hon Rong mountain area, the authorities also discovered that the situation of issuing land use right certificates in contravention of the law. The City People’s Committee issued 5 decisions to revoke the wrongly issued land use right certificates. According to the report of the City People’s Committee. Cam Ranh, in Cam Loc ward, has 11 cases of violating construction, the sanctioning decision has been made but the consequences have not yet been overcome. There were 2 cases that executed the fine payment, including Mr. Le Tung and Mr. Truong Thanh. Last time, Mr. Tung organized the leveling and construction of a number of works on land in plots 82, 83, sheet 32, forestry map. Up to now, Mr. Tung has paid a fine but has not taken remedial measures. Seeing that Mr. Tung regularly committed recidivism, making it difficult for the state management in the Hon Rong mountain area, the People’s Committee of Cam Loc ward is working out a plan to enforce decisions on sanctioning of violations. main, remedial measures for this case. Mr. Le Ngoc Thach – Vice Chairman of City People’s Committee. Cam Ranh said: “Currently, the city is completing the application for enforcement of Mr. Le Tung’s case. After coercing Mr. Tung, he continues to develop a plan to enforce the dismantlement of cases with decisions on handling administrative violations. The city has assigned tasks to Cam Loc and Cam Phu wards and other general advisory departments and boards ”. RECOGNITION

Cleio Junior, a firefighter at the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Natural Resources, discovered a dead anteater while he was on a fire control mission near the Amazonas state. Photo: Reuters. The above data is based on the research results of MAAP when conducting the analysis of very high resolution satellite images and data, recorded in the territories of all countries in the Amazon Delta, including Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador, Guyana and Surinam. Accordingly, the Amazon’s primary forest area lost in the past year alone is equivalent to that of the Central American nation of El Salvador. The countries with the most loss of Amazon primary forests in 2020 are Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador, respectively. Still according to the MAAP, more than 65% of deforestation of the entire Amazon region in 2020 was recorded in Brazil. South America’s largest country by acreage has lost a total of 1.5 million hectares of forest in the past year, up more than 13% from the year before. The area of ​​deforestation in Brazil is nearly twice the size of Puerto Rico and is mainly concentrated in the south of the country. Meanwhile, the deforestation area in Bolivia in 2020 amounted to a record 240,000 hectares, mainly due to the fires occurring in the Southeast of the country that destroyed the forests in the ecosystems. Chiquitano and Chaco slices. In the case of Peru, the country lost 190,000 hectares of primary forest last year, up 18% from 2019 and also a record number. The main cause of deforestation in Peru is attributed to the burning of forests for arable land. Since mid-2019, data from the early warning satellite system showed that the deforestation rate in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil tended to increase, to the fastest in a decade. According to the Brazilian Institute of Aerospace Research (INPE), the alarm system recorded forest deforestation in May up to 739 km2. This is higher than the 550 square kilometers recorded in May 2018, and twice as high as the area of ​​forest that was destroyed two years ago. According to the head of INPE, Claudio Almeida, 2019 is a “bad year” for the Amazon. As the country with the most area of ​​Amazon, but Brazil is also the country with the most forest loss in 2018 with nearly 16,187 km2. The main reason is due to deforestation for livestock, soybean cultivation and mining. According to the data of Mapbiomas – a research project on the disappearance of protective forest areas in the Amazon forest, in the last 30 years there has been 953,000 hectares of lost forest including protected areas, lands indigenous and inland lands. It is recognized that this figure is equivalent to 6 times the size of the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil’s largest city and South America. The results of Mapbiomas add that, excluding protection forests, the Amazon forest area destroyed in the past 30 years has reached 39.8 million hectares, equivalent to 19% of the total natural forest area ever existed. in 1985. Satellite imagery also shows that 84% of the lost area of ​​the world’s largest rainforest has become agricultural land, including pastures and pastures. farmyard. In early December 2020, the European Union (EU) envoy to Brazil, Ambassador Ignacio Ybanez said, until Brazil has not committed to preventing deforestation of the Amazon, the Free Trade Agreement between the EU and the South American Common Market (Mercosur) will not be approved by the parliament of the EU member states to come into force. This happens when the world is concerned about the “green lung of the Earth” that is Amazon being burned more and more. The EU Embassy in Brazil mentioned the deforestation of the Amazon and participation in the Paris Agreement on climate change. In fact, the Amazon wildfire is already at an alarming rate. It not only affects a few countries but is also global because it is the largest forest in the world with immeasurable value.

The Amazon forest was cut down in Brazil. Documentary photo: AFP / VNA According to a report based on satellite data by the Global Forest Monitoring Organization, Brazil was the most severely damaged, the area of ​​destroyed forest in the country was 3 times higher than that of the second ranked country, the DRC. . In 2020, up to 4.2 million hectares of primary forest in the tropics will be destroyed, 12% higher than the previous year. Altogether in 2020, the tropical regions will lose 12.2 million hectares of greenery, including forests and tree plantations, mainly due to agricultural activities. Researchers also pointed out that extreme heat and drought have also caused wildfires, burning vast forests in Australia, Siberia and deep in the Amazon region. The author of the report, Ms. Frances Seymour of the World Resources Institute said that these losses reflect a state of emergency in climate. This is not only an ecosystem crisis, but also a humanitarian disaster, loss of economic potential. The study has provided some evidence that the restrictions imposed by countries to prevent the COVID-19 epidemic are also impacting this trend worldwide, as it increases the rate of illegal exploitation due to the forests are no longer protected, or more people have returned to the countryside. The researchers warn that the worst consequences will happen if countries stop protecting forests for economic purposes. However, according to Ms Seymour, the “worst sign” of last year was that forests became victims of climate change, according to which wetlands are still burning. According to research, trees and soils absorb up to 30% more carbon produced by human pollution each year, so the rapid disappearance of tropical forests will result. Uncompensable damage to the Earth’s ecosystem. The researchers emphasize that destroying tropical primeval forests in 2020 will emit 2.64 tons of CO2, the equivalent of India’s annual emissions, or 570 million cars, or twice as much. the emissions of all vehicles circulating in the US. Ms. Seymour warned that the more the world is delaying preventing deforestation, or slowly pushing towards the goal of neutralizing emissions, the more likely it is that natural forests that absorb CO2 on Earth will disappear completely. In Brazil, the government has cut budgets for environmental programs, leaving many Amazon lands to be exploited for resources and agribusiness, resulting in 1.7 million hectares of primary forest being destroyed in 2020. , up 25% from 2019. Meanwhile, the Pantanal tropical wetlands, the paradise of ecosystems stretching from Brazil to Bolivia, also suffered many fires. Bolivia is the country with the third highest deforestation rate in the world in 2020. Indonesia is a bright spot when reducing deforestation rate by 17% compared to 2019 and for the first time in 20 years, it escapes the group of three countries with the highest deforestation rate in the world. Deforestation rate in Indonesia has decreased for 4 consecutive years. Last year wet weather, combined with government policies, had had a long-term positive impact on the destruction of primary forests, researchers say. Forests cover more than 30% of the Earth’s area, while tropical forests are home to 50-90% of all terrestrial creatures. Earlier this week, research published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution estimated that growing commodity demand in rich countries is accelerating deforestation in tropical regions. Recent studies have warned that to a certain point, deforestation in the Amazon threatens to change the climate of the entire region, turning tropical forests into savannas.