Online
The webinar addresses why and under which conditions restored wetlands might induce vector-borne and zoonotic risk and how this risk can be mitigated. Knowledge on the underlying processes is pivotal in guiding future restoration projects towards maximising ecosystem services and minimising ecosystem disservices.
At a local and global scale, wetlands have been degraded and destroyed for centuries with knock-on effects on ecosystem structure and functioning. Historically, wetlands have been hotspots for vectors and reservoirs of vector-borne (e.g., via mosquitos) and zoonotic (animal spread) infectious diseases. The current restoration (incl. natural restoration by recolonizing beavers) of thousands of wetlands at a European scale provides therefore the opportunity and reinforces the need to evaluate if these restorations trigger pathogen transmission.
There is for example concern that restored and constructed wetlands are hotspots and sources of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases including malaria, tularemia, Dengue fever, Chikungunya fever, West Nile fever and Sindbis fever. The webinar addresses why and under which conditions restored wetlands might induce vector-borne and zoonotic risk and how this risk can be mitigated. Knowledge on the underlying processes is pivotal in guiding future restoration projects towards maximizing ecosystem services and minimizing ecosystem disservices.
The access to the webinar is free for all.