Data_Sheet_4_Outbreaks of Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases Are Associated With Changes in Forest Cover and Oil Palm Expansion at Global Scale.CSV

Deforestation is a major cause of biodiversity loss with a negative impact on human health. This study explores at global scale whether the loss and gain of forest cover and the rise of oil palm plantations can promote outbreaks of vector-borne and zoonotic diseases. Taking into account the human population growth, we find that the increases in outbreaks of zoonotic and vector-borne diseases from 1990 to 2016 are linked with deforestation, mostly in tropical countries, and with reforestation, mostly in temperate countries. We also find that outbreaks of vector-borne diseases are associated with the increase in areas of palm oil plantations. Our study gives new support for a link between global deforestation and outbreaks of zoonotic and vector-borne diseases as well as evidences that reforestation and plantations may also contribute to epidemics of infectious diseases. The results are discussed in light of the importance of forests for biodiversity, livelihoods and human health and the need to urgently build an international governance framework to ensure the preservation of forests and the ecosystem services they provide, including the regulation of diseases. We develop recommendations to scientists, public health officers and policymakers who should reconcile the need to preserve biodiversity while taking into account the health risks posed by lack or mismanagement of forests.

森林砍伐是生物多样性丧失的主要原因，对人类健康产生负面影响。本研究在全球范围内探讨了森林覆盖面积的变化以及油棕种植园的兴起是否可能引发媒介传播和动物源性疾病的爆发。考虑到人口增长的因素，我们发现，自1990年至2016年间，动物源性及媒介传播疾病的爆发增加与森林砍伐（主要发生在热带国家）和植树造林（主要发生在温带国家）密切相关。此外，我们还发现，媒介传播疾病的爆发与棕榈油种植面积的扩大有关。本研究为全球森林砍伐与动物源性及媒介传播疾病爆发之间的联系提供了新的证据，并证实了植树造林和种植园可能对传染病流行有所贡献。研究结果在探讨森林对生物多样性、生计和人类健康的重要性以及迫切需要构建国际治理框架以确保森林及其提供的生态系统服务得到保护的同时，包括对疾病的监管。我们为科学家、公共卫生官员和政策制定者提出建议，他们应在保护生物多样性的同时，考虑到森林缺乏或管理不善所带来的健康风险。