Science-based environmental conservation to answer the risk of pandemic, with a focus on the Republic of Korea

ABSTRACT

The pandemic resulting from COVID-19 infections had short-term positive impacts on the environment such as improvement in air and water quality. However, long term changes still have disastrous effects in terms of loosening of conservation policies and an increase in 'post-COVID-19' development subsidies to boost the economy at the expense of the environment. The prevention of habitat loss and zoonoses will avert future pandemics and measures to protect the local environment should be taken. The Republic of Korea follows the global trend in the weakness of long-term environmental answer to the pandemic and other on-going zoonoses, such as the avian influenza and African swine fever. Some of the current activities may even increase the risks of pandemic as mass culling of animals is widespread despite known risks. Instead, environmental protection and decreased encroachment may be the only safe way to proactively prevent the emergence of further pandemics.