Deforestation and diseases: why disrupting ecosystems may put us at risk

Zoonotic diseases are transmitted between animals and people and now make up the majority of emerging infectious diseases in humans. While there are many reasons for this increase, the UNEP Frontiers report identifies land use change as a key driver of the emergence of new zoonoses. As more humans clear forests around the world to make way for agriculture and infrastructure, we become more at risk for encountering new pathogens