Studies show that 72 per cent of zoonotic diseases like Covid originate in wildlife, which is why it’s crucial to conserve natural habitats.
The conservation of wildlife in its habitat has assumed greater importance because of Covid-19, as studies indicate that 60 per cent of Emerging Infectious Diseases — such as HIV, Ebola, SARS, Covid-19 — affecting humans are zoonotic. Approximately 72 per cent of these originate in wildlife. Wildlife habitats, which include Protected Areas and other categories of landscapes rich in wilderness, are also important life-supporting systems that play a critical role in ensuring food and water security, climate change resilience, and natural hazard regulation, among several other ecological, economical and cultural services.