COVID-19 as a Framing Device for Environmental Protest: The ECOSYSTEM HEALTH Metaphor

This paper focuses on the ECOSYSTEM HEALTH metaphor which has long prevailed in environmental communication. Following the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, we propose a contrastive view on the use of the ECOSYSTEM HEALTH metaphor in environmental discourse: we distinguish the metaphorical expressions used before the pandemic from the ones used during the pandemic. This distinction is aimed at identifying the new arguments promoted by COVID-19 metaphors. The publications released by the international environmental organization Extinction Rebellion are of particular interest. Through a detailed analysis of texts published between January and July 2020, we show that the impact of COVID-19 has modified our understanding of the ECOSYSTEM HEALTH metaphor. While environmentalists used to depict the environment as a SICK BODY prior the pandemic, the occurrences discussed below demonstrate that COVID-19 metaphors highlight the human characteristics associated with the source domain HEALTH.

Biodiversity Conservation Through Protected Areas Supports Healthy Ecosystems and Resilience to Climate Change and Other Disturbances

Protected areas support healthy ecosystems that are resilient to natural and anthropogenic disturbances, and like healthy people, are more resilient to stress and disease. This article first explains how this resilience arises, the role of the portfolio effect and the protection paradox. Then it outlines how flourishing biodiversity, as can occur in protected areas and well-managed landscapes, mitigates against climate change by sequestering, storing and depositing carbon. Reduced human disturbance of wildlife and their habitats reduces the risk of zoonotic transfers to domestic animals and people. Thus, areas where biodiversity is fully and partly protected can reduce the effects of climate change, prevent the loss of biodiversity, and reduce the risk of zoonotics like COVID-19. An expanded global protected area network can be a win-win-win for the three crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and zoonotics. © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Microbiome-based solutions to address new and existing threats to food security, nutrition, health and agrifood systems' sustainability

In addition to challenges like climate change and biodiversity loss, the sustainability and resilience of agrifood systems worldwide are currently challenged by new threats, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine war. Furthermore, the resilience and sustainability of our agrifood systems need to be enhanced in ways that simultaneously increase agricultural production, decrease post-harvest food losses and food waste, protect the climate, environment and health, and preserve biodiversity. The precarious situation of agrifood systems is also illustrated by the fact that overall, around 3 billion people worldwide still do not have regular access to a healthy diet. This results in various forms of malnutrition, as well as increasing number of people suffering from overweight and obesity, and diet-related, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) around the world. Findings from microbiome research have shown that the human gut microbiome plays a key role in nutrition and diet-related diseases and thus human health. Furthermore, the microbiome of soils, plants, and animals play an equally important role in environmental health and agricultural production. Upcoming, microbiome-based solutions hold great potential for more resilient, sustainable, and productive agrifood systems and open avenues toward preventive health management. Microbiome-based solutions will also be key to make better use of natural resources and increase the resilience of agrifood systems to future emerging and already-known crises. To realize the promises of microbiome science and innovation, there is a need to invest in enhancing the role of microbiomes in agrifood systems in a holistic One Health approach and to accelerate knowledge translation and implementation.

Legislative framework and policies for mental health in india: A study of emerging trends

Mental health issues impose an enormous disease burden on societies across the world. Despite its enormous social burden, mental disorders continue to be driven into the shadows by stigma, prejudice and fear. The issue is becoming ever more urgent in light of the forced migration and sustained conflict in many countries of the world. The status of mental health care varies widely from country to country. Many countries already have policies to deliver services for mental health conditions in primary care settings but require system strengthening to achieve integration. Many countries deliver care mainly in institutional settings and need dedicated advocacy and support in phasing out long-stay institutions and developing community-based alternatives. Some countries may require support for policy development or to implement mental health reform efforts. Concerns about potential increases in mental health conditions had already prompted 90% of countries surveyed to include mental health and psychosocial support in their COVID-19 response plans, but major gaps and concerns remain.For much of the pandemic, services for mental, neurological and substance use conditions were the most disrupted among all essential health services reported by WHO Member States. Many countries also reported major disruptions in life-saving services for mental health, including for suicide prevention. Various legislative provisions and Policies have been formulated. Post pandemic, the government of India paid more attention to the concern of mental health and introduced initiatives hitting the target areas. World Health Organization’s most recent Mental Health Atlas showed that in 2020, governments worldwide spent on average just over 2% of their health budgets on mental health and many low-income countries reported having fewer than one mental health worker per 100000 people. The addition of National Tele Mental Health Programme will bridge the critical gap and make the whole digital health ecosystem holistic. Respecting the rights of persons with mental health problems will reduce stigmatizing and discriminatory behaviours.

One health approach prevents future pandemics: A review article

The impact that one health (OH) concept can have on the worldwide response to the COVID-19 pandemic is significant. We highlight four areas where the use of OH has the potential to greatly improve infectious disease governance in general, and COVID-19 governance in particular. For starters, a better-integrated surveillance infrastructure and monitoring of the occurrence of infectious diseases in humans and animals can make it easier to discover emerging infectious agents with comparable genotypes across species and track their spatiotemporal spread. This information can help public and animal health officials plan effective responses. Second, using the OH approach can help stakeholders representing seemingly conflicting domains coordinate and collaborate more effectively. Third, the OH approach emphasizes the importance of a strong institutional environment that allows for sufficient regulation of hotspots for infectious disease transmission between people and animals, such as live animal marketplaces. Finally, OH thinking emphasizes the need for equitable solutions to infectious disease challenges, implying that policy response mechanisms and interventions should take into account illness burdens faced disproportionately by vulnerable and marginalized people, as well as those helping sick people with health treatment and other important services. Within the 'One World - One Health' strategy, four major components can be identified as crucial elements: the geographical component, the ecological component, human activities, and food agriculture activities. We go over what we know about infections that emerge, the hosts they come from, and the circumstances that cause them to develop. We explore the obstacles to their control as well as innovative tactics for predicting pandemics, focusing surveillance on the most critical interfaces, and developing prevention strategies. © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications. All rights reserved.

Building the social innovation for health ecosystem in Latin America: Experiences and learning from SIHI-LAC

Social innovation for health has grown in relevance and momentum across Latin America.1-5 Yet, the potential of social innovation for health appears mostly untapped, with one reason for this being the limited investment to build strong ecosystems that can support social innovation initiatives.6-8

Science in One Health: A new journal with a new approach

One Health recognizes the close links and interdependence among human health, animal health and environmental health. With the pandemic of COVID-19 and the risk of many emerging or reemerging infectious diseases of zoonotic nature as well as the spreading antimicrobial resistance, One Health has become one of top concerns globally, as it entails the essential global public health challenges from antimicrobial resistance over zoonoses, to climate change, food security and societal well-being. Research priorities in One Health include the study on interactions of human-animal-plants-nature ecology interface, systems thinking, integrated surveillance and response systems, and the overall One Health governance as part of the global health and sustainability governance. The now launched journal, Science in One Health, aims to be a resource platform that disseminates scientific evidence, knowledge, and tools on the One Health approaches and respective possible socio-ecological interventions. Thus, aims at providing fruitful exchanges of information and experience among researchers, and decision makers as well as public health actors.

Ensuring consideration of water quality in nexus approaches in the science–practice continuum: reply to discussion of “Water quality: the missing dimension of water in the water–energy–food nexus?”*

We thank Arnbjerg-Nielsen and co-authors for their constructive contribution. We endorse their key comments and suggestions on how to increase awareness of and action on water quality interactions in the water–energy–food (WEF) nexus. Here, we advance the discussion, commenting on the scope of water quality to embrace ecosystem as well as human needs, and the importance of transdisciplinarity and focusing at the city/aquifer/drainage basin scale in WEF nexus hotspots in ensuring that water quality is considered in WEF nexus approaches. We also identify how recent global events, the COVID-19 pandemic and the 26th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP 26), may intensify the WEF nexus and its water quality interlinkages, highlighting the need to weave WEF considerations into addressing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the climate and biodiversity emergencies. © 2022 IAHS.

The Challenge of COVID-19: A Compelling Mission for Veterinary Profession

While thecovid -19 pandemic has been devastating and disrupting the normal life of people across the globe, veterinarians have crucial obligations, opportunities, and contributions to make the country self-reliant, self-sufficient and self-sustaining. They accomplish this by enhancing the health and wellbeing of animals, environment and community. They also aid in detecting and responding to zoonotic diseases, maintaining food security and water quality, and promoting wildlife and ecosystem health. Failing to seize this moment could definitely undermine public health and global security for generations. Despite the fact that the strategic modifications of the veterinary education system, client dealing as well as the trade and investment regulations implemented in the aftermath of the covid-19 pandemic has an immense prospective for progress, there are several pitfalls in this system. This must be addressed in order to face the challenge, accept the future and relinquish the opportunities to create a more sustainable profession.

Service Ecosystem Health: A Transformative Approach to Elevating Service Science

Events in the year 2020 threw human service systems into chaotic states, threatening peoples' lives and livelihoods. Before 2020, there were many profound challenges to human life that had been well documented by efforts such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The COVID-19 pandemic seems to be a "last straw" crisis that has destabilized modern human civilization. This article diagnoses various crises of human service systems (e.g., COVID-19, inequality, and climate change) and proposes the metaphor of service ecosystem health for reimagining service science in a postpandemic world. Service ecosystem health is defined as the interdependent state of private, public, and planetary well-being necessary for sustaining life. This article reimagines service science, broadens transformative service research, builds the service ecosystem health metaphor, outlines the Goldilocks Civilization thought experiment, and explores designing for a Goldilocks civilization. Because service is for humans, the ultimate objective is to elevate service science to uplift human well-being.