Stopping Deforestation Can Prevent Pandemics: Destroying habitats makes viruses and other pathogens more likely to infect humans

 

Saplings provided by the City of San Antonio Parks and Recreation for people to adopt and plant when they came to pray with Archbishop Gustavo Siller remembering Laudato Si in 2020. At Mission San Jose, a World Heritage Site, indigenous people learned agriculture and the value of planting trees from the Franciscans. 

The editors of Scientific American carefully connect issues of sustainability as does Pope Francis" in his letter on “Our Common Home” called Laudato Si.  Protecting trees and planting trees is a simple act that can make huge contributions to well-being for all living creatures.  The CompassionTree Project globally and in San Antonio https://www.sanantonio.gov/ParksAndRec/Want-to-Help/Compassion-Tree-Project can give individuals opportunities to participate in transformative action and to build community.

In an article, “Stopping Deforestation Can Prevent Pandemics: Destroying habitats makes viruses and other pathogens more likely to infect humans,” Scientific American editors note, “Ending deforestation and thwarting pandemics would address six of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals: the guarantee of healthy lives, zero hunger, gender equality, responsible consumption and production, sustainably managed land, and climate action (intact tropical forests absorb carbon dioxide, whereas burning them sends more CO₂ into the atmosphere). The COVID-19 pandemic is a catastrophe, but it can rivet our attention on the enormous payoffs that humanity can achieve by not overexploiting the natural world. Pandemic solutions are sustainability solutions.” Read more https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/stopping-deforestation-can-prevent-pandemics1/

Sister Marichui Bringas and friends plant a tree she adopted at Mission San Jose as they celebrate Mexican Independence Day, September 16.  Adoptions are a commitment to loving care.