Rewilding and human health

Well-functioning, healthy ecosystems are fundamental to all life on earth including that of humans. We depend on, and benefit from, a multitude of ecosystem services, such as clean air and water, healthy soils, fuel, food and other renewable natural resources, climate, and disease regulation. Human health is ultimately dependent on the provision of these services. The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic that began in 2019 has been an urgent reminder of the complex interactions between humans and the environment. Zoonotic diseases such as COVID-19 are a leading cause of human death and illness globally, with the majority of zoonotic transmissions coming from domestic animals with spillovers of pathogens from wild reservoirs to humans occurring sporadically. However, most new zoonotic diseases originate in wildlife, and they are expected to increase in the future due to greater contacts between humans and their livestock and wildlife. In this chapter, the authors summarise the current knowledge regarding the relationship between environmental degradation and zoonoses, offer perspectives on what research and action need to focus on to reduce the possibility of future pandemics, and consider the role of rewilding in relation to zoonotic disease mitigation.