News and Insights
Biodiversity is Crucial to Human Health
Scientists are now acknowledging the direct connection between the loss of biodiversity and impacts on human health. Despite this growing recognition, the loss of biodiversity is not getting the same attention that climate change is among health care professionals.
This might be due to the dramatic effects that wildfires, floods and extreme heat have on communities as compared to the more subtle, less visible impacts of biodiversity loss, making the connection harder to see.
Physician Neil Vora and wildlife veterinarian Chris Walzer argue that the health care sector must treat biodiversity loss as a core public health issue because nature underpins the quality of our food, water, air quality, infectious disease control, mental health, and climate resilience. They note that major health policies largely overlook the crucial role of biodiversity, and urge integrating the protection and restoration of biodiversity into climate-health policy, clinical practice, community health programs, education curricula, and funding to avoid irreversible harm for current and future generations.
Events and Community
The Goldilocks Strategy: Getting Our Relationship with Bears and Lions Just Right
As a keystone species, humans need to safeguard other powerful animals while protecting the safety and livelihoods of local communities.
Learn firsthand from South African Novelist and Photographer Tony Eprile, in conversation with Botswana Director Dr. Andrew Stein of Communities Living Among Wildlife Sustainably (CLAWS), and Wildlife Ecologist Meghan Walla-Murphy, as they share their adventures and insights from working with animals such as lions and black bears.
They will discuss their work with dangerous predators and the communities that live alongside them; as well as the use of new technology and indigenous wisdom to coexist and thrive side-by-side.
Thursday, November 13
7:00 – 8:30 PM ET – on Zoom
Courses
Who would you like to introduce to this living systems view of climate?
Is there someone you know who cares deeply about Nature, food, animals, plants but might not yet understand how Nature regulates the climate?
In Dr. Katie Ross’s upcoming course, “What if we can balance our climate quickly, naturally, safely?”, Katie starts with the basics—why the planet is warming, why living landscapes matter, why we focus so much on carbon, the role water plays in regulating the climate, and what we can actually do about it.
This course is a clear and welcoming introduction to how Nature regulates water, energy, and climate—and how we can help restore that balance.
So who do you want to bring into this conversation?
Invite them to join you in taking this course. Because when more people understand that it’s living species and living systems that keep the temperatures cool, the land hydrated, and the rains gentle and steady, the sooner we will create a livable future for us all.
When: Mondays — Nov 10, 17 & Dec 1, 8 — 7:00 PM ET
Format: 4 Live, 60-Minute Zoom Sessions (with recordings each week)
Instructor: Dr. Katie Ross