Preserving ecosystems and the biodiversity they support could reduce the emergence of infectious diseases from these natural systems. The current rates of biodiversity loss around the world could have major consequences for emerging diseases.
The EU-funded DISTURBED (Predicting impacts of anthropogenic disturbance and biodiversity loss on emerging infectious diseases) project determined how pressure from human activities results in biodiversity loss, leading to increased disease emergence and transmission in animal communities.
Further details: Biodiversity and emerging diseases