With the ongoing global pandemic there is a burning question as to why we are in this situation. Believe it or not, Biodiversity loss could be making us sick!

During my online research, I came across a simple analysis of this theory with 3 steps that justify this concept, and an explanation that I can fully agree with:

It must be noted that:

1.     1. The rate of biodiversity loss today is almost 1000 times higher than what it was in the past

2.      2. Biodiversity loss also includes losing microbe biodiversity. This includes organisms like bacteria that are also integral in a thriving ecosystem.

3.      3. Losing this microbe biodiversity can have a negative effect on our immune systems which can make us sick

As I believe, biodiversity is not a simple term- it involves an intricate web of interlinked connections of dependence and interdependence among all members. When the numbers of one species begin to dwindle, the entire ecosystem is affected. Similarly, these microbes that are a part of the same ecosystem that we are, also get affected. Therefore, loss of microbe biodiversity ultimately leads to human beings being affected.

More than often we tend to believe that microbes are our enemies and that they harm us. Indeed there are disease causing microbes or Pathogens but this does not mean that microbes are harmful to us. In fact some microbes are necessary for our survival and health.

Let us analyse the ecosystem inside our body...

Looking at our bodies from a certain perspective creates the idea that our body is its own ecosystem with its own microbiomes. These microbiomes that house trillions of microbes are essential because of the important roles that the microbes hold. They help in body processes and functions including processing food, releasing chemicals, and supporting brain function.

Furthermore, microbes in our environment that our bodies interact with are also important for boosting our immune system because they play an educational role for our body. A part of the immune system fights against all foreign substances that enter the body. These microbes we interact with provide a form of reference that informs the immune system what is harmful and what is not.

Why this is important

This issue is pressing in current times because of the pandemic we are living in right now. A healthy immune system is necessary to fight the disease. These microbes we interact with provide us with nutrients and important and healthy chemicals for both our body and mind. This boost to our physical and mental state is also integral in a recovery from sickness.

However, urbanization makes it so that we do not get enough interaction with these health promoting microbes. Urbanization also brings with it a lot of pollution which further affects these important microbiomes. These concrete jungles that we live in are proven to shorten life expectancy and affect both mental and physical health in general and through infection.

A solution?

Restoring green and blue areas is a solution to many environmental problems and that includes this one. The easiest solution is to create a deeper connection with nature to ensure our bodies are healthy. 

Lastly, I think the concept that all microbes are bad is also one that should be forgotten because this ‘germaphobia’ is often what prevents us from interacting with this invisible biodiversity.

Sources and References

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/08/biodiversity-loss-immune-system-environment